The Fragment Constant Method for Predicting Octanol–Air Partition Coefficients of Persistent Organic Pollutants at Different Temperatures

The octanol–air partition coefficient (KOA) is a key physicochemical parameter for describing the partition of organic pollutants between air and environmental organic phases. Experimental determination of KOA is costly and time consuming, and sometimes restricted by lack of sufficiently pure chemicals. There is a need to develop a simple but accurate method to estimate KOA. In the present study, a fragment constant model based on five fragment constants and one structural correction factor, was developed for predicting logKOA at temperatures ranging from 10 to 40°C. The model was validated as successful by statistical analysis and external experimental logKOA data. Compared to other quantitative structure–property relationship methods, the present model has the advantage that it is much easier to implement. As aromatic compounds that contain C, H, O, Cl, and Br atoms, were included in the training set used to develop the model, the current fragment model applies to a wide range of chlorinated and brominated aromatic pollutants, such as chlorobenzenes, polychlorinated naphthalenes, polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers, all of which are typical persistent organic pollutants. Further study is necessary to expand the utility of the method to all halogenated aliphatic and aromatic compounds.