Once you understand basic chemical thermodynamics and kinetics and you study the environment a key process that underlies the interaction of organic chemicals in many environmental phenomena is driven by two-phase equilibrium. The problem is that most times equilibrium has not been reached. The two phases can be between air, water, and a myriad of solid phases including soil, sediment, organisms in these phases. These include the sub-fields of environmental studies: 1. analysis of organic chemicals in the environment; 2. fate of organic chemical in the environment; and 3. treatment to remove organic chemicals from the environment. The basis of almost all chemical analysis of organic chemicals includes an isolation and concentration method to be able use a chromatographic system to separate the chemicals of interest for quantitation. For example, organic chemical pollutants are isolated from water by usually one-step two-phase equilibrium by a gas phase (head-space analysis), an organic solvent phase, or a solid phase as by solid phase extraction methods. The chromatographic columns are liquid or solid phases that have a mobile phase e.g. gas or liquid passing down through a column and separate by multiple two phase equilibria (defined as theoretical plates). In tese cases two phase equilibrium is approached. The fate of organic chemicals in the environment also deals with the mass transfer movement as wind and waves to move the organic chemicals that partitioned between air, water and solid phases. Here two-phase equilibrium is not reached. However, it can be modeled (e.g., Fugacity Models) to illuminate potential pathways. The results of models should be used as hypotheses to test. The treatment methods to remove organic chemicals from the environment are either two phase systems or chemical reaction systems or a mixture of both. For example, GAC removal systems from water or the air are 2-phase systems whereas chlorination is a chemical reaction system. Bio-treatment system is a mixture of both, using a two phase system to cross membranes and then a biochemical reaction system.<br/>Thus, environmental chemists can comfortably study approaches to develop analytical methods, follow the fate of, or treatment of organic chemicals in the environment by the same principles. The underlying principal of polarity and molecular size that control interaction of chemicals at the molecules level will be included in the discussion and demonstrated by research examples.

Two phase interactions: A lynchpin of environmental chemistry

253rd National Meeting (2017)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.