ENVIRONMENTAL

ENGINEERING
Lecture 2
Prepared by:
R. Tavares, RME
Soil Chemistry

Soil a mixture of weathered rocks and minerals; decayed plant and

animal (humus and detritus); and small living organisms , including
plants, animals and bacteria.
Importance of Soil
1. Food Production
2. Maintenance of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus balances
3. Construction of building materials
Soil Composition
95% mineral
5% organic matter

Note: Range in composition varies considerably

Chemical Concentrations in Soil
Unit of Measure (given in mass units)

Parts per milion, milligram per kilograms, microgram per kilogram

Note:
The units vary based on the magnitude of the mass of chemical present per unit mass
(usually kilogram).

Soil Characteristics

1. Exchange Capacity the extent to which a unit mass of soil can exchange a
mass of a certain ion of interest and is reported in equivalents of ions per mass
of soil. It refers to the ability of the soil to leach ions such as magnesium,
calcium, nitrate and phosphate.
2. Sorption the attachment of a chemical to either the mineral or organic
portions of soil particles and includes both adsorption and and absorption.
Atmospheric Chemistry

Fundamentals of Gases

1. Ideal Gas Law (on gas density)

where: = gas density, g/m3

P = absolute pressure, Pa
MW = molecular mass of the gas, g-/mol
T = absolute temperature, oK
R = ideal gas constant
= 8.3143 J/mol-oK
= 1545 BTU/mol-oR
Atmospheric Chemistry
Fundamentals of Gases

2. Daltons Law of Partial Pressure

= + + + . . +

where: Pt = total pressure of the mixture

P1,P2, P3, Pn = partial pressure of each gas

Recall: Ideal Gas Law: PV = nRT

= 1 + 2 + 3 + . +

= ( + + + . + )

Atmospheric Chemistry
Fundamentals of Gases

2. Daltons Law of Partial Pressure

This law is used in assessing air quality because stack and

exhaust sampling measurements are made with instruments
calibrated with air; --- combustion products have a different
composition from air. Readings must be adjusted.

Concentration of Pollutants in the Air

Concentration of particulates in the air is reported in units of

micrograms per cubic meter or parts per million. The parts per
million is reported on a volume-volume basis. The ppm has the
advantage over the micrograms/m3 in that changes in temperature
and pressure do not change the ratio of the volume of pollutant to
the volume of the air.
Atmospheric Chemistry
Converting micrograms/m3 to parts per million(ppm)

Concentration of particulates in the air is reported in units of

micrograms per cubic meter or parts per million. The parts per
million is reported on a volume-volume basis. The ppm has the
advantage over the micrograms/m3 in that changes in temperature
and pressure do not change the ratio of the volume of pollutant to
the volume of the air.

At Standard Condition: 0oC , 101.325 kPa

1 mole of gas occupies 22.414 L

= x 22.414, L/mol (1) where: Vp = pollutant volume

Mp = pollutant mass
MW = molecular wt. pollutant
Atmospheric Chemistry
Converting micrograms/m3 to parts per million(ppm)

For readings other than STP(std. temperature and pressure)

.
. (2)

=
+

. (. / )
=
/

where: Va = air volume at pressure and temperature of the reading

= 1.00 m3 unless otherwise stated
Mp = pollutant mass in micrograms
Sample Problems
1. Determine the density of nitrogen gas at a pressure of 122.8 kPa and a
temperature of 298.0 K.
2. What volume would one mole of an ideal gas occupy at 25.0oC and
101.325 kPa?
3. A 1-m3 volume tank contains a gas mixture at 18.32 mol of oxygen,
16.40 mol of nitrogen, and 6.15 mol of carbon dioxide. What is the
partial pressure of each component in the gas mixture at 25.0oC?
4. Determine the mass of oxygen contained in a 5.0-m3 volume under a
pressure of 568.0 kPa and a temperature of 263.0K.
5. Convert the concentration of NO2 from 0.55 ppm units to units of
micrograms per cu. m., given that the gas a temperature of 290 K and
pressure of 100.0 kPa.
6. A chemical, SpartanGreen, has a partition coefficient of 12,500
(mg/kg)/(mg/L). If the concentration of this chemical in water is found
to be 105 g/L, at equilibrium, what is the concentration on the soil?