Handbook of Solvents - George Wypych - ChemTech - Ventech!

17
Environmental Impact of
Solvents
17.1 THE ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND MOVEMENT OF ORGANIC
SOLVENTS IN WATER, SOIL, AND AIR a
William R. Roy
Illinois State Geological Survey, Champaign, IL, USA
17.1.1 INTRODUCTION
Organic solvents are released into the environment by air emissions, industrial and
waste-treatment effluents, accidental spillages, leaking tanks, and the land disposal of solvent-containing
wastes. For example, the polar liquid acetone is used as a solvent and as an
intermediate in chemical production. ATSDR 1 estimated that about 82 million kg of acetone
was released into the atmosphere from manufacturing and processing facilities in the U.S. in
1990. About 582,000 kg of acetone was discharged to water bodies from the same type of
facilities in the U.S. ATSDR 2 estimated that in 1988 about 48,100 kg of tetrachloroethylene
was released to land by manufacturing facilities in the U.S.
Once released, there are numerous physical and chemical mechanisms that will control
how a solvent will move in the environment. As solvents are released into the environment,
they may partition into air, water, and soil phases. While in these phases, solvents
may be chemically transformed into other compounds that are less problematic to the environment.
Understanding how organic solvents partition and behave in the environment has
led to better management approaches to solvents and solvent-containing wastes. There are
many published reference books written about the environmental fate of organic chemicals
in air, water, and soil. 3-7 The purpose of this section is to summarize the environmental fate
of six groups of solvents (Table 17.1.1) in air, water, and soil. A knowledge of the likely
pathways for the environmental fate of organic solvents can serve as the technical basis for
the management of solvents and solvent-containing wastes.
a Publication authorized by the Chief, Illinois State Geological Survey