Coadsorption at the air/water interface likely explains some pollutants transfer to the atmosphere: Benzene and lead case
Abstract
This study attempts to evidence a physical interfacial mechanism for the passing of some non-volatile harmful molecules from water, where they are dissolved, to the atmosphere. The idea developed here is that an organic substance, at its solubility limit, forms a surface layer whose properties induce the coadsorption of another dissolved substance; both are then able to pass to the atmosphere by a bubbling mechanism. Experiments were made with benzene close of its solubility limit in an aqueous solution of lead nitrate, which is non-volatile and normally does not adsorb at water surface. Coadsorption really occurred. The impact of such a mechanism on the environment is discussed. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords
Air pollution
Environmental testing
Interfaces (materials)
Water resources
Coadsorption
Pollutants
Atmospheric composition
benzene
lead nitrate
organic compound
water
adsorption
air-water interaction
lead
pollutant transport
solubility
air pollutant
aqueous solution
article
atmospheric dispersion
environmental impact
experiment
molecular dynamics
priority journal
surface property