Partition and Adsorption of Organic Contaminants in Environmental Systems

Given the presence of a wide variety of contaminants in theenvironment, it is important to understand what drives acontaminant from one medium to another, as well as the manner andextent to which a contaminant associates with the different mediaor phases within a local environmental system. Partition andAdsorption of Organic Contaminants in Environmental Systemsforms a comprehensive resource on the behavioral characteristics ofcontaminants so that appropriate strategies can be adopted toeither prevent or minimize their adverse impacts on human welfareand natural resources.
Cary Chiou's far-reaching text depicts the processes bywhich nonionic organic contaminants are sorbed to natural bioticand abiotic substances. This book focuses on physical principlesand system parameters that affect the contaminant uptake by soilfrom water, air, and other media; by fish from water; and by plantsfrom soil and water. As contaminant uptake by natural organicsubstances is often predominantly a partition interaction, thepartition characteristics in several solvent-water model mixturesare treated in detail to elucidate the relevant physicochemicalparameters. The account of contaminant sorption to soils, fish, andplants is strengthened by companion chapters on:
* Fundamentals of solution theory
* Interphase partition equations
* Fundamentals of adsorption theory
* Vapor adsorption on mineral and carbonaceous solids
No other single source in the field delivers as compelling acombination of background understanding and "state-of-the-science"comprehension of current issues. Ideally suited for agraduate-level environmental course, Partition and Adsorptionof Organic Contaminants in Environmental Systems alsoserves as a technical guide to current and future research in thefield.