Volatilization Rates of Trichloroethylene, 1, 1, 1-Trichloroethane, and Tetrachloroethylene from an Aqueous Solution to the Atmosphere

Abstract

The volatilization rates of trichloroethylene, 1, 1, 1-trichloroethane, tetrachloroethylene, as well as oxygen were measured by a photoionization detector. The gas-phase concentration of these chlorinated organics volatilized from aqueous phase was continuously monitored. The use of the photoionization detector enabled the faster and easier determination of the volatilization rate, compared with the conventional method. It was concluded that the volatilization rates were controlled by mass transfer in the aqueous phase. The ratio of the volatilization rate constant of the chlorinated organic (i) to that of oxygen, K_v⁽ⁱ⁾/K_v^O2, was 0.61±0.03 for trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene, and 0.59±0.03 for 1, 1, 1trichloroethane, respectively.