This study investigates two important sorption phenomena in soils: binding of organic matter to clay surfaces and sorption of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) to organo-mineral complexes. Batch sorption of phenanthrene to clay-associated peat humic acid under varying solution conditions demonstrates that the physical conformation of organic matter is a key factor in HOCs sorption and that mineral phase indirectly governs sorption reactions at the solid-aqueous interface. Preferential binding of CH2 groups and proteins on clay mineral surfaces, which is confirmed by 1H liquid-state and 1H High Resolution Magic Angle Spinning (HR-MAS) NMR spectra, suggests that interactions such as hydrogen bonding might be important in the uptake of HOCs by soils. Solution conditions and clay mineralogy, which influence organic matter configuration, are an important consideration in predicting and evaluating contaminant fate and transport.