Organic Contaminant Partitioning

In our modern society, we rely on chemicals for diverse and varied purposes. Our exploitation of the benefits of chemicals means that many are inevitably emitted to the environment, where they distribute between air, water, soil and sediment, and even into the tissues of plants and animals.
Landscape seen from airplane

In this course you will learn how the molecular structure of organic chemicals determines their partitioning properties, and how these properties of the chemicals in turn affect their fate in the environment.

Understanding the environmental fate of organic chemicals and how it is determined by molecular structure and partitioning properties is fundamental for environmental chemistry research, risk analysis and environmental chemical management within both industry and authorities.
 

Topics covered include:

  • vapor pressure – “solubility in air”
  • water solubility
  • distribution of organic contaminants between air and water
  • solubility in organic matrices
  • octanol-water partition coefficient
  • sorption to sediment and/or soil
  • bioavailability and uptake in biota (bioaccumulation and biomagnification)



Teaching Format

The course includes lectures, workshop exercises, presentations and discussions.


Assessment

The course is examined as follows: Knowledge assessment takes the form of Written exam and written assignments.


The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course.


Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course.


Course reports are displayed for the three most recent course instances.








Study counsellors

studeranu@aces.su.se

Department of Environmental Science

Course coordinator

Matthew MacLeod, Matthew.MacLeod@aces.su.se

Department of environmental Science, unit of Contaminant Chemistry

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