Application of a newly developed column test device to analyze seawater transport in sandy soils

• Published in: Environmental earth sciences Vol. 70; no. 5; pp. 2397 - 2404
• Main Authors: Dong, Xiaoqiang, Woo, Heesoo, Park, Hisoo, Park, Junboum
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01-11-2013; Springer Berlin Heidelberg; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biogeosciences; Chemical analysis; Computer programs; Contaminants; Devices; Dispersions; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Earth, ocean, space; electrical conductivity; Electrodes; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental Science and Engineering; Exact sciences and technology; Geochemistry; Geology; Geophysics: general, magnetic, electric and thermic methods and properties; Groundwater management; Hydrology/Water Resources; Internal geophysics; Marine; Original Article; pollutants; Pollution, environment geology; Pore water; Resource management; Sand & gravel; Sandy soils; Sea water; Seawater; Sensors; Soils; Solute transport; solutes; steady flow; Surficial geology; Terrestrial Pollution; Transport; Water analysis; Water resources; Water transportation; Seawater transport; Electrical conductivity; Dispersion coefficient; Column test; sea water; experimental studies; electrodes; solutes; effluents; concentration; sandy soils; transport; velocity; pollution; subsurface; steady flow; chemical analysis; pore water; electrical conductivity; dispersion; soils; computers; laboratory studies
• ISSN: 1866-6280; 1866-6299
• DOI: 10.1007/s12665-013-2675-6

To verify the applicability of the time-continuous electrical conductivity (EC) measurement in analyzing the contaminant movement in the subsurface, a new column test device employing non-destructive four-electrode sensors was developed. Using the seawater to create a simple one-dimensional steady-flow condition, laboratory transport experiments were conducted and the EC breakthrough curves at different distances were obtained. Comparison between the EC breakthrough curves obtained from the EC sensors and those from the effluent solute chemical analysis showed that the estimated resident concentration from the EC breakthrough curves are useful in understanding solute transport in soils. The pore water velocity and longitudinal dispersion coefficient estimated using the computer code, CXTFIT, were found to be slightly underestimated, especially at sensors located at smaller distances from the outlet boundary. Results showed that the developed column test device employing the four-electrode sensors proposed in this study provides a non-destructive, convenient, and inexpensive means of evaluating the seawater transporting in soils.