SORPTION: PRINCIPLES MECHANISMS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE

Sorption describes the collective processes by which substances attach to surfaces, including adsorption (surface attachment) and absorption (bulk uptake). It plays a central role in controlling the fate and transport of chemicals in soil, sediments, water, and engineered systems. Sorption processes influence pollutant mobility, nutrient availability, water purification, and contaminant remediation. This article reviews sorption mechanisms, factors affecting sorption, and its environmental significance, with examples from natural and engineered systems. Understanding sorption is essential for predicting contaminant behavior and designing effective mitigation strategies.