Calculation of Diffusion Resistances Controlling Volatilization Rates of Organic Contaminants from Water

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Abstract
A theoretical analysis is presented describing the rates of volatilization (and thus half-lives) of organic compounds from solution in surface waters, which is a reformulation of the existing "two-resistance" approach. It is extended to treat the more complex situation of volatilization from water in which the solute is also present in dispersed oil particles or in sorbed form and experiences a dissolution resistance which may prolong the volatilization half-life. We suggest that the separate calculation of half-lives (1) for volatilization from solution and from dispersion and (2) for dissolution assists the elucidation of the dominant rate-controlling processes. Satisfactory agreement is obtained between predicted concentration decay behaviour and data obtained in exploratory laboratory experiments and under dispersed oil slicks at sea.

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