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The dielectric properties of granular media saturated with DNAPL/water mixtures
Author(s) -
AjoFranklin J. B.,
Geller J. T.,
Harris J. M.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2004gl020672
Subject(s) - dielectric , reflectometry , materials science , aquifer , aqueous solution , groundwater , optics , environmental science , soil science , mineralogy , time domain , geology , chemistry , geotechnical engineering , physics , optoelectronics , computer science , computer vision
We present the results of five experiments investigating the dielectric properties of granular materials partially saturated with trichloroethylene (TCE), a common dense non‐aqueous contaminant. Previous research has investigated the radar signatures of similar solvents in controlled field experiments but no core‐scale measurements have verified the appropriate petrophysical model. Broadband dielectric measurements were performed using a time domain reflectometry (TDR) system coupled to a solvent‐compatible coaxial transmission line. Two synthetic samples and three natural aquifer samples were fully saturated with water and then subjected to an axial TCE injection until breakthrough was observed. The resulting dielectric measurements show good agreement with the empirical complex refractive index model (CRIM) allowing a reasonable prediction of the radar reflectivities and transmission velocities expected in field surveys targeting pools of similar non‐aqueous contaminants.