Water and Wastewater Terms Beginning V

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

volatile (VOL-uh-tull)

1. Capable of being evaporated or changed to a vapor at relatively low temperatures. Volatile substances can be partially removed from water or wastewater by the air stripping process.
2. In solids analysis, volatile refers to materials lost (including most organic matter) upon ignition in a muffle furnace for 60 minutes at 1,022°F (550°C). Natural volatile materials are chemical substances usually of animal or plant origin. Manufactured or synthetic volatile materials, such as plastics, ether, acetone, and carbon tetrachloride, are highly volatile and not of plant or animal origin. Also see nonvolatile matter.