ENVR 116 |
| Eugene J. LeBoeuf, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Jacobs Hall Room 278, VU Station B 351831, Nashville, TN 37235 |
| Identifying the mechanisms responsible for controlling the sorption behavior of contaminants in soils and sediments is critical to furthering our understanding of the fate and transport of these compounds in the environment. Although there is some consensus that the presence of natural and anthropogenic carbonaceous materials may largely influence the mass transfer of organic compounds in soils and sediments, there exists some debate over selection of appropriate sorption and diffusion models. Recent research, in our laboratories and others, suggests that macromolecular organic matter (MOM) found in soils and sediments is a conglomeration of various physical and chemical structures, or domains, that leads to greatly varying sorption/desorption behavior. These domains may possess specific properties such as glassy/rubbery or microcrystalline regions, which can significantly influence the relative mobility of the matrix. Presentation of equilibrium and non-equilibrium sorption data coupled with advanced physical characterization and molecular dynamics simulation information provides insight into the fundamental mechanisms that govern sorption and diffusion of organic chemicals in MOM. |
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Physicochemical Processes in Environmental Systems: A Symposium in Honor of Professor Walter J. Weber, Jr
1:30 PM-5:20 PM, Wednesday, September 10, 2003 Javits Convention Center -- 1A24, Oral
Division of Environmental Chemistry |