Li, Y., D.P. Oliver, and R.S. Kookana.
The Science of the Total Environment, 08 Feb 2018, 628-629:110-120

Data published in peer-reviewed literature on sorption of PFASs were reviewed to evaluate the role of organic carbon (OC) and other properties on PFAS sorption in soils or sediments. PFOA and PFOS represented the largest data sets and showed very weak correlations between the sorption coefficient K_d and OC alone (R²=0.05-0.07). When only laboratory-derived K_d values of PFASs and OC were analyzed, the R² values increased for PFOA (R²=0.24, n=42), PFOS (R²=0.38, n=69), PFNA (R²=0.77 n=12), and PFDA (R²=0.78, n=13). Relationships were heavily skewed by one or two high OC values. Similarly, there was no significant relationship between K_d values and pH for PFOS (R²=0.06) and PFOA (R²=0.07) across a range of environmental pH values. Multiple regression models better explained the sorption behavior of several PFASs as opposed to a single soil or sediment property. Regressions of OC and pH together explained a significant proportion of the variation in K_d values for 9 out of 14 PFASs and 8 of these regressions had ≥10 data points. More data and studies with a thorough characterization of soils or sediments are required to better understand their role in PFASs sorption.