Measuring carbonate dissolution rates under well-controlled conditions for reactive CO2-water flow in a large lab-scale karst fracture imitate
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This study explores the carbonate dissolution dynamics in karstic systems by simulating reactive water flow under controlled large lab-scale laboratory conditions.Using a 1 m2 Jura limestone tile, the experiments focus on carbonate dissolution in fractures under variable parameters, including CO2 concentration, fluid flow velocity and fracture aperture. This large lab-scale setup bridges the gap between field-scale phenomena and small-scale laboratory studies.Preliminary tests confirmed the suitability of the limestone for dynamic experiments, in terms of measurable calcium release at different experimental modifications. A novel, adjustable polyoxymethylene (POM) frame ensures precise control of flow and reaction boundaries. Process water varied from CO2-free to fully CO2-saturated, allowing insights into dissolution efficiency at different CO2-saturation levels. The results revealed a significant enhancement in dissolution rates with CO2 addition.This setup provides important experimental data for the validation of numerical models for reactive transport in karst systems, to improve the understanding of the interplay between chemical reactions, fluid dynamics and geological settings.The findings have implications for karst hydrology, geochemical modeling related subsurface processes, supporting advancements in predictive capabilities for natural and engineered systems.
Source: MethodsX
Institutions: GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, University of Stuttgart
Language: English
Subfield: Earth-Surface Processes
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,260
OpenAlex ID: W4408633822