Effect of dissolved organic matter from Guangzhou landfill leachate on sorption of phenanthrene by Montmorillonite

► MMT combined with DOM in leachate enhance the sorption of PHE. ► DOM was bound on the surfaces of MMT via H-bondings and cation bridges. ► DOM-MMT complex possessed higher Si/O atomic ratio on silica layers. ► The characteristic of PHE sorption isotherm is linear.