During the course, the main processes governing the transport and transformation of chemical contaminants (natural and anthropogenic) in the environment will be discussed. Topics include chemical-physical properties of the subsurface environment and selected groups of contaminants, partitioning of chemicals in the geosystem, sorption processes, chemical transformations, and remediation technologies. The topics will be demonstrated by case studies.
- Introduction: the subsurface environment
Solid phase
Liquid phase
Aquifers
Geochemical environments
- Properties of potential contaminants
Organic anthropogenic compounds
Inorganic pollutants
- Selected geochemical processes
Thermodynamics and equilibrium
Weathering
Adsorption
- Partitioning
Sorption, retention, and release of contaminants
Partitioning in the aqueous phase
Volatile compounds
- Chemical transformations: hydrolysis and other reactions involving other nucleophilic species
- Redox reactions
- Groundwater contamination: case study
- Remediation technologies for contaminated groundwater
If time allows:
- Case studies