Diffusion/volatilization, pollutants

The pollutant or solute cycle — that may encompass the processes of advection, diffusion, volatilization, adsorption and desorption, chemical degradation or decay, hydrolysis, photolysis, oxidation, cation or anion exchange, complexation, chemical equilibria, nutrient cycles, and others (see section 3.0). 

From the pollutant and biological cycles the processes of advection, diffusion, volatilization (diffusion at the soil-air interface), adsorption or desorption (equilibrium), and degradation or decay, which are also the most important chemical processes in the soil zone. All other processes can be lumped together under the source or sink term of equation (3). 

Sorption/desorption is the key property for estimating the mobility of organic pollutants in solid phases. There is a real need to predict such mobility at different aqueous-solid phase interfaces. Solid phase sorption influences the extent of pollutant volatilization from the solid phase surface, its lateral or vertical transport, and biotic or abiotic processes (e.g., biodegradation, bioavailability, hydrolysis, and photolysis). For instance, transport through a soil phase includes several processes such as bulk flow, dispersive flow, diffusion through macropores, and molecular diffusion. The transport rate of an organic pollutant depends mainly on the partitioning between the vapor, liquid, and solid phase of an aqueous-solid phase system. 

Contaminant volatilization from subsurface solid and aqueous phases may lead, on the one hand, to pollution of the atmosphere and, on the other hand, to contamination (by vapor transport) of the vadose zone and groundwater. Potential volatihty of a contaminant is related to its inherent vapor pressure, but actual vaporization rates depend on the environmental conditions and other factors that control behavior of chemicals at the solid-gas-water interface. For surface deposits, the actual rate of loss, or the pro-portionahty constant relating vapor pressure to volatilization rates, depends on external conditions (such as turbulence, surface roughness, and wind speed) that affect movement away from the evaporating surface. Close to the evaporating surface, there is relatively little movement of air and the vaporized substance is transported from the surface through the stagnant air layer only by molecular diffusion. The rate of contaminant volatilization from the subsurface is a function of the equilibrium distribution between the gas, water, and solid phases, as related to vapor pressure solubility and adsorption, as well as of the rate of contaminant movement to the soil surface. 

The supercritical fluid carbon dioxide, C02, is of particular interest This compound has a mild (31°C) critical temperature (Table 1) it is nonflammable, nontoxic, and, especially when used to replace freons and certain organic solvents, environmentally friendly. Moreover, it can be obtained from existing industrial processes without further contribution to the greenhouse effect (see Air pollution). Carbon dioxide is fairly miscible with a variety of organic solvents, and is readily recovered after processing owing to its high volatility. It is a small linear molecule and thus diffuses more quickly than... 

The choice of an appropriate model is heavily dependent on the intended application. In particular, the science of the model must match the pollutant(s) of concern. If the pollutant of concern is fine PM, the model chemistry must be able to handle reactions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2), volatile organic compounds (VOC), ammonia, etc. Reactions in both the gas and aqueous phases must be included, and preferably also heterogeneous reactions taking place on the surfaces of particles. Apart from correct treatment of transport and diffusion, the formation and growth of particles must be included, and the model must be able to track the evolution of particle mass as a function of size. The ability to treat deposition of pollutants to the surface of the earth by both wet and dry processes is also required. 

Yoshida, T., Matsunage, I., Tomioka, K. and Kumagai, S. (2006a) Interior air pollution in automotive cabins by volatile organic compounds diffusing from interior materials I Survey of 101 types of Japanese domestically produced cars for private use. Indoor and Built Environment, 15, 425-44. 

Abstract In the last decade, it became increasingly evident that the fuel oxygenate methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) is nearly ubiquitous in the worldwide environment. The detection frequency of MTBE rivals other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that have been produced and used for a much longer period of time. Its mere presence in water bodies used as drinking water reservoirs (rivers, lakes, or groundwater tables) has aroused concern about its potential sources, persistence, or possible adverse effects (aesthetic or toxic implications) for end-users and aquatic life. The purpose of this chapter is to provide an updated overview of the current environmental concentrations, the occurrence of the pollutant in the different aquatic compartments, the relevance of diffuse and point sources, and the different alternatives for remediation of MTBE contaminated sites. 

Thermal desorption Volatile compounds in gases such as pollutants in air can be trapped in a small adsorption tube, either by pumping the gas through or by passive diffusion. The packing in the trap can be chosen from a wide variety of adsorbents (molecular sieves, graphitized carbon blacks, organic polymers). After sample collection the adsorption tube is rapidly heated in a stream of purge gas which transports the released analytes to the GC column where the separation runs. 

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