The demineralized fraction (DM), lipid-free fraction (LF), nonhydrolyzable organic carbon fraction (NHC), and black carbon (BC) were isolated from five marine surface sediments, and they were characterized by elemental analysis as well as CO₂ and N₂ adsorption techniques, respectively. The NHC fractions were characterized using advanced solid-state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Then, the sorption isotherms of phenanthrene (Phen) and nonylphenol (NP) on all of the samples were investigated by a batch technique. The CO₂ micropore volumes were corrected for the outer specific surface areas (SSAs) by using the N₂-SSA. Significant correlations between the micropore-filling volumes of Phen and NP and the micropore volumes suggested that the micropore-filling mechanism dominated the Phen and NP sorption. Meanwhile, the (O + N)/C atomic ratios were negatively and significantly correlated with the sorption capacities of Phen and NP, indicating that the sedimentary organic matter (SOM) polarity also played a significant role in the sorption process. In addition, a strong linear correlation was demonstrated between the aromatic C and the sorption capacity of Phen for the NHC fractions. This study demonstrates the importance of the micropores, polarity, and aromaticity on the sorption processes of Phen and NP in the sediments.

We examined the degree of DNA damage caused by fractions of crude oil in accordance with the boiling points, polarity and log Kow. Relatively high DNA damage was observed in the aromatic fraction (290–330°C) and resin and polar fraction (350–400°C). The resin and polar fraction showed relatively high genotoxicity compared with the aliphatic and aromatic fraction at the 1–4 log Kow range. At the 6–7 log Kow range, the aromatic fraction showed relatively high DNA damage compared with the aliphatic and resin and polar fraction. In particular, every detailed fraction in accordance with the log Kow values (aliphatic and aromatic (310–320°C) and resins and polar fractions (370–380°C)) showed one or less than one DNA damage. However, the fractions before separation in accordance with log Kow values (aliphatic and aromatic (310–320°C) and resin and polar (370–380°C) fractions) showed high DNA damage. Thus, we confirm the synergistic action between the detailed compounds.