
Groundwater colloids: Their mobilization from subsurface deposits. Final report
Publication year - 1998
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/656681
Subject(s) - groundwater , colloid , environmental science , groundwater contamination , geology , chemical engineering , aquifer , engineering , geotechnical engineering
The overall goal of this program has involved developing basic understandings of the mechanisms controlling the presence of colloidal phases in groundwaters. The presence of colloids in groundwater is extremely important in that they may enable the subsurface transport of otherwise immobile pollutants like plutonium or PCBs. The major findings of this work have included: (1) Sampling groundwaters must be performed with great care in order to avoid false positives; (2) Much of the colloidal load moving below ground derives from the aquifer solids themselves; and (3) The detachment of colloids from the aquifer solids occurs in response to changes in the groundwater solution chemistry