Solubility, Sorption and Transport of Hydrophobic Organic Chemicals in Complex Mixtures

摘要

Environmental contamination problems commonly involve wastes consisting of complex mixtures of chemicals. The behavior of these mixtures has not been well understood because the primary chemodynamic properties of organic chemicals have usually been characterized in aqueous solutions which are simple in composition relative to many waste mixtures found at or near disposal/spill sites. The research summarized in the report focuses on the effects which organic cosolvents have on the sorption and mobility of organic contaminants. In general, sorption of organic solutes, especially hydrophobic organic chemicals (HOCs), is inversely related to solubility. Thus, an increase in solubility resulting from the addition of a cosolvent leads to a proportional decrease in sorption and a concomitant increase in mobility. The cosolvency theory used to quantify these cosolvent effects is summarized. The application of this theory to assist in the definition, prediction and remediation of soil and ground water contamination problems is discussed.