partitioneringskoefficienter

Partitioneringskoefficienter, often abbreviated as Kp or P, describe the distribution of a chemical compound between two immiscible phases at equilibrium. In environmental science and toxicology, this typically refers to the ratio of the concentration of a substance in an organic phase (like lipids or octanol) to its concentration in an aqueous phase (water). This ratio is a fundamental measure of a compound's lipophilicity or hydrophobicity.

A high partitioneringskoefficient indicates that the compound prefers to dissolve in the organic phase, meaning it is less soluble in water and more likely to accumulate in fatty tissues. Conversely, a low coefficient suggests the compound is more soluble in water and less likely to partition into lipids. This property is crucial for predicting a chemical's behavior in the environment, such as its potential for bioaccumulation in organisms and its movement through different environmental compartments like soil, water, and air.

The octanol-water partition coefficient (Kow) is the most commonly used partitioneringskoefficient. It is determined experimentally or estimated using computational methods. The value of Kow is often expressed as a logarithm (log Kow) to handle a wide range of values more conveniently. Log Kow values are widely tabulated and used in risk assessments for chemicals, helping to forecast their environmental fate and potential impact on ecosystems and human health.