Figure 1.

Illustration of the interlinkage of the various processes affecting the hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) fate in activated carbon (AC) amended soil. (i) AC amendment increases the sorption of HOCs and reduces the concentration of HOCs dissolved in porewater. Reduced HOC porewater concentrations typically imply (ii) less HOCs volatilization to the atmosphere,⁵ (iii) less biouptake of HOCs by earth worms and plants,^7,21 and (iv) less HOCs leaching to groundwater.⁸ Reduced HOC porewater concentrations may also change soil microbial community structure and functioning, including (v) the HOCs biodegradation. Secondary effects of AC on other substrates such as dissolved organic carbon and nutrients concentrations,⁸ soil wettability, and physical soil structure may also change soil microbial community structure and functioning.