Fate of Organosilicon Compounds in the Environment

Dear Colleagues,

In 1863, two scientists, C. Friedel and J.M. Crafts, synthesized the organic silicon compound tetraethyl silane (C₂H₅)₄Si for the first time. In 1945, the direct synthesis of chlorosilanes in the presence of a catalyst started the modern organic silicon industry. The application of the hydrosilation reaction for the generation of organic silicone in 1947 and thermal condensation production of organic silicon monomer in 1950 opened the way for various organosilicon products, such as organosilicon surfactant applied in personal care products, medicine, pesticide formulations, and organosilicon based grease, oils, various polymers, resins, rubber, and caulk. Hitherto, organosilicon linkage is not found in nature; thus, it was believed that those compounds do not degrade in the environment. However, the problems with valorization engines related to the presence of volatile organic silicon compounds in biogas from landfills and wastewater treatment plants revealed a lack of knowledge on the fate of organosilicon compounds in the environment.              

This Special Issue will publish outstanding papers presenting the latest research on the fate of organosilicon compounds in the environments.The Special Issue will collect review articles and research papers on topics that include, but are not limited to the following:

•   Hydrolysis and photodegradation of organosilicon compounds and toxicity of formed by-products.
•   Radical-induced degradation of organosilicon compounds and toxicity of formed byproducts.
•   Biochemistry of organosilicon compounds.
•   Biodegradation of organosilicon compounds.
•   Atmospheric chemistry of volatile organosilicon compounds.
•   Analytical methods for the determination of organosilicon compounds and their degradation products in biological and environmental samples.

Dr. Przemysław Drzewicz
Dr. Grzegorz Piechota
Guest Editors

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