Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: The aim of this project was to investigate the effect of Electrical Conductivity (EC) and increasing Pore Volumes (PV) on soils solid and solution chemical equilibrium by analysis of soil leachate. \n \nThis is in order to understand: \n1. The effect of EC on the rate chemical equilibrium is attained. \n2. The number of PV’s required to reach chemical equilibrium in soils with vastly different properties. \n \nThree soils were studied by percolating solutions of varying EC (0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8 dS/m) through soil cores and collecting the leachate. The leachate was analysed using an AAS for sodium, magnesium and potassium concentrations, along with testing for EC and determining HC. \n \nFrom experimental investigation, it was observed that increasing the EC of the percolating solution increased the amount of cations replaced in the soil per PV. Furthermore, the rate of ion exchange generally decreases as the number of PV’s increases. \n \nProcesses such as exchange models (diffusion or mass transfer), interlayer collapse from 2:1 clays, and macropore preferential flow Vs. micropore flow effects on exchange were considered, but require further investigation.
Author: Travis Wieck
Language: English
Topic: Soil and Unsaturated Flow
Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W641687199