Experimental study of 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol and pentachlorophenol solubilities in aqueous solutions: derivation of a speciation-based Chlorophenol solubility model

Despite the widespread occurrence of chlorophenols as groundwater contaminants, the aqueous solubilities of the chlorophenols are not well-characterized. In this study, the authors report the solubility of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) based on experiments conducted as a function of pH, ionic strength and temperature, and a speciation-based model for estimating the solubilities of other chlorophenols is derived.Narrow constraints on the aqueous solubility of both chlorophenols were made possible by conducting experiments in pure water and in 0.1 NaCl at 25°C and 55°C, from both under- and over-saturation. The solubility of the chlorophenols is pH-independent under low pH conditions, but at higher pH values it increases with increasing pH. The concentration of the protonated chlorophenol species determines the low pH solubility and, at 25°C, the log molality of the protonated species of 2,4,6-TCP is −2.8±0.1, whereas for PCP the value is −5.1±0.3. Two other properties were used to model the solubility as a function of pH: the acidity constant (K_a) and the stability constant for a Na-chlorophenolate complex. The pK_a and Na-chlorophenolate log stability constant values that best fit the solubility data for 2,4,6-TCP are 6.1±0.3 and 1.0±0.5, respectively; the values for PCP are 4.5±0.3 and 1.0±0.5, respectively. At 55°C, the log molality of protonated PCP increases to −4.7±0.2 and the pK_a and log stability constant value are 4.1±0.3 and 0.9±0.5, respectively. The log stability constant for NaPCP° at 55°C is equal to 0.9±0.5.The experimental solubility measurements are used to construct a theoretical model which defines the solubility of a chlorophenol in terms of its acidity constant and its low pH minimum solubility. This approach enables estimations of the aqueous solubility of other chlorophenol molecules as a function of pH, ionic strength and temperature. In order to facilitate application of this model to other chlorophenol molecules, the authors compile and critically review the solubility data for 20 chlorophenols from the literature. The results of the experiments and review enable estimations of chlorophenol solubilities under a wide range of conditions of environmental interest.