ABSTRACT
The objective of this chapter is to review the fundamental principles required to formulate material balance equations, which are the building blocks in mathematical modeling of environmental systems. Toward this end, fundamental concepts and principles of environmental processes commonly encountered in both engineered and natural systems are reviewed here. Topics reviewed include phase contents, phase equilibrium, partitioning, transport processes, and reactive and nonreactive processes. Finally, integration of these concepts in formulating the material balance equation is outlined. Again, rather than rigorous and complete thermodynamic and mechanistic analyses, only the extracts are included to serve the modeling goal.
