Technique for determining the volatilization coefficients of priority pollutants in streams

The volatilization coefficients of benzene, chloroform, methylene chloride, and toluene were measured in the laboratory over a range of mixing conditions concurrently with the measurement of the oxygen absorption coefficient. Application of the constancy of the ratios between the organic solute and oxygen coefficients to the modified tracer technique for the measurement of stream reaeration coefficients permits the determination of the volatilization coefficients of these solutes for any stream or river without direct introduction of these substances into the natural waters. Volatilization coefficients expressed as the liquid-film coefficients are presented for these solutes for a number of streams and rivers of the United States.