The primary objective of this research was to evaluate the sorption/desorption (S/D) behavior of several inorganic and organic agents in the presence of four shales (Antrim, Anvil Points, Oxy 6, and Run 16) and a western soil. In addition, an attempt was made to relate batch test results to data obtained in continuous-flow, column trials, and to develop a spectrophotometric method for the analysis of organic compound mixtures. With respect to the results of studies with the inorganic agents, it appeared that retort temperature and porosity (and/or hydraulic conductivity) was strongly correlated to the distribution and quantity of inorganic agents which eluted from the shales. Most of the inorganic agents eluted from columns of the shales in the first two to eight pore volumes of effluent. Shales retorted at a lower temperature appeared to have a greater capacity for arsenic, cadmium, and fluoride removals than the other shales considered. Arsenic, cadmium, and iron were generally removed to below detection limits. In the case of cadmium and iron, removals were effected largely by precipitation due to the relatively high pH of the shale surfaces and associated fluids. Experiments with the organic agents indicated that 2-hydroxy-naphthalene was generally sorbed better than 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline which in most trials was more completely sorbed than 2,3,5-trimethylphenol. Overall, it appeared that Antrim shale was the best sorbent for the organic agents considered and Run 16 was generally the worst. Anvil Points and Oxy 6 shales often ranked intermediate to the other shales as sorbents and provided similar results. The western soil provided for sorption levels of the organics which were nearly as good, if not better, than those accomplished by the shales. 188 refs., 100 figs., 21 tabs.