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Measurement of the apparent diffusion coefficient of trichloroethylene in soil
Author(s) -
Hutter Gary M.,
Brenniman Gary R.,
Anderson Robert J.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/wer.64.1.10
Subject(s) - trichloroethylene , diffusion , silt , porosity , soil science , chemistry , adsorption , soil water , effective diffusion coefficient , mineralogy , environmental chemistry , geotechnical engineering , environmental science , geology , thermodynamics , medicine , paleontology , physics , organic chemistry , radiology , magnetic resonance imaging
Measurements of in‐soil diffusion coefficients and the application of an appropriate diffusional model can allow for a more accurate prediction of soil gas concentrations and movement to locate subterranean contamination. The present study was undertaken to measure and evaluate the “apparent in‐soil diffusion coefficient” for trichloroethylene (TCE) through soil columns. The term “apparent in‐soil diffusion coefficient” refers to a numerical coefficient that primarily describes the movement of the material by diffusion but also contains effects due to other mechanisms (for example, adsorption and solubility).
Six trichloroethylene columns were evaluated at three porosity levels ranging from 0.29 to 0.43. Soil columns measured 25.4 cm in diameter by 84 cm in height and contained a moist sand/silt/clay mixture. The numerical range for apparent in‐soil diffusion coefficients for trichloroethylene was 0.254 × 10 −3 cm 2 /sec to 1.986 × 10 −3 cm 2 /sec, with the larger values being associated with higher soil porosity levels.