ABSTRACT
Contaminant vapors as a component of soil gas in the unsaturated zone. The remediation of vapor-phase contaminant from locus no. 1, the soil gas in the unsaturated zone, should be based on an understanding of the physical and chemical processes that control the volatilization and movement of vapor-phase contaminants. The mobilization/remobilization of the soil gas and vapor phase contaminant is controlled by physical properties and conditions of the soil, volatilized contaminant, and other immiscible phases present in locus no. 1. Temperature plays a significant role in contaminant mobilization, mainly because of its effect on the contaminant’s vapor pressure, but also through its effect on the viscosity and air diffusion coefficient. Water vapor and contaminant vapors compete for the same adsorption sites on soils. In general, water has the ability to dramatically reduce a soils’ sorption capacity for vapors of organic chemicals.
