Effect of solutes structure and pH on the n-octanol/water partition coefficient of ionizable organic compounds.

Liquid-liquid partition coefficient is a useful tool to predict biological and environmental fate of organic compounds, for example bioaccumulation or toxicity of lipophilic contaminants. Conversely, the partitioning of ionizable compounds is poorly studied in contrast to that of neutral compounds. Yet, such topic deserves attention, since numerous organic contaminants are ionizable as well as their degradation products.

Mobility of organic compounds in a soft clay-rich rock (Tégulines clay, France).

The migration of organic compounds in soils is a major concern in several environmental issues. Contaminants display distinct behaviours as regards to their specific affinities towards soils constituents. The retention mechanism of hydrophobic compounds by natural organic matter is well known.

The design and fabrication of beta sensor system for in situ diffusion tests in mudstone in France.

Long term in situ diffusion experiments in the Callovian-Oxfordian mudstone (France) are designed in the context of nuclear waste management. β-emitters HTO and Cl radiotracers are representative of neutral and anionic species in these experiments. Studies have been carried out to design an in situ beta monitoring system in order to quantify tracer migration in the rock pore water over time.

Multi-tool formaldehyde measurement in simulated and real atmospheres for indoor air survey and concentration change monitoring.

Formaldehyde is of particular health concern since it is carcinogenic for human and ubiquitous in indoor air where people spend most of their time. Therefore, it is important to have suitable methods and techniques to measure its content in indoor air. In the present work, four different techniques have been tested in the INERIS exposure chamber and in indoor environments in comparison to a standard active method: passive sampling method based on the reaction of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine with formaldehyde, two on-line continuous monitoring systems based on fluorescence and UV measurements and a portable commercialised analyser based on electrochemical titration.

Optical chemical sensors based on hybrid organic-inorganic sol-gel nanoreactors.

Sol-gel porous materials with tailored or nanostructured cavities have been increasingly used as nanoreactors for the enhancement of reactions between entrapped chemical reactants. The domains of applications issued from these designs and engineering are extremely wide. This tutorial review will focus on one of these domains, in particular on optical chemical sensors, which are the subject of extensive research and development in environment, industry and health.