scavenging

  1. (in radiation chemistry) Binding radicals or free electrons with a receptive (or reactive) material.
  2. (in radiochemistry) The use of a precipitate to remove from solution by absorption or coprecipitation, a large fraction of one or more radionuclides.
    Source:
    PAC, 1994, 66, 2513 (Nomenclature for radioanalytical chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)) on page 2525
  3. (in atmospheric chemistry) The removal of pollutants from the atmosphere by natural processes, including scavenging by cloud water, rainout and washout. This type of removal process is termed precipitation scavenging. Scavenging of airborne pollutants at the surfaces of plant, soil, etc., is termed dry deposition.
Source:
PAC, 1990, 62, 2167 (Glossary of atmospheric chemistry terms (Recommendations 1990)) on page 2213