Open AccessA Review of Multidimensional, Multifluid, Intermediate‐Scale Experiments: Flow Behavior, Saturation Imaging, and Tracer Detection and Quantification
Author(s) -
Oostrom M.,
Dane J. H.,
Wietsma T. W.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
vadose zone journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.036
H-Index - 81
ISSN - 1539-1663
DOI - 10.2136/vzj2006.0178
Subject(s) - tracer , multispectral image , porous medium , saturation (graph theory) , dissolution , materials science , environmental science , chemistry , porosity , geology , remote sensing , physics , mathematics , nuclear physics , composite material , combinatorics
A review is presented of original multidimensional, intermediate‐scale experiments involving nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL) flow behavior, imaging, and detection and quantification with solute tracers. In a companion paper (Oostrom et al., 2006a), experiments related to aqueous dissolution and enhanced remediation were discussed. The experiments investigating flow behavior include infiltration and redistribution experiments with both light and dense NAPLs in homogeneous and heterogeneous porous medium systems. The techniques used for NAPL saturation mapping for intermediate‐scale experiments include photon‐attenuation methods such as gamma and X‐ray techniques, and photographic methods such as the light reflection, light transmission, and multispectral image analysis techniques. Solute tracer methods used for detection and quantification of NAPL in the subsurface are primarily limited to variations of techniques comparing the behavior of conservative and partitioning tracers. Besides a discussion of the experimental efforts, recommendations for future research at this laboratory scale are provided.