Residence time

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-010218",
  "term": "Residence time",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "The average length of time a substance remains within a specific system or compartment before being removed or transformed. In atmospheric chemistry, it quantifies how long a pollutant persists in the atmosphere before deposition or chemical reaction. For a well-mixed system at steady state, it is calculated as the total amount of the substance in the system divided by its removal rate.",
  "synonyms": [
    "hydraulic retention time"
  ],
  "subject": "Chemistry and the Environment",
  "see_also": [
    "aerosol",
    "bioreactor",
    "dilution rate"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 1990, 62, 2167. 'Glossary of atmospheric chemistry terms (Recommendations 1990)' on page 2211 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199062112167)",
    "PAC, 1992, 64, 143. 'Glossary for chemists of terms used in biotechnology (IUPAC Recommendations 1992)' on page 164 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199264010143)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/residence-time/"
}