An innovative lysimeter design for in situ testing of fate and transport of chemicals

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:367453

Williams, M D; Winberry, M W; Daily, D; Velagaleti, R R ^[1]; Schabacker, J ^[2]; Weber, J B; Swain, L R ^[3]

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1. Analytical Biochemistry Labs., Columbia, MO (United States)
2. Ciba-Geigy Corp., Greensboro, NC (United States)
3. North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC (United States). Crop Science Dept.

Evaluation of chemical dissipation, degradation, and transport under actual field-use conditions is an important aspect of risk assessment for many chemical compounds and contaminants. This paper presents a recently developed modular lysimeter design that has three components: run-off collection, leachate collection, and the intact soil core. This system is easy to assemble and install in the field and is self-contained. An in situ field study was conducted using this lysimeter design in North Carolina, US using a radiolabeled test substance. An eight column (6 inch x 36 inch) 90 day study was conducted in a sand/loamy sand soil at a typical intended use site. The use of radiolabeled test substance allowed for monitoring of the test substance and its degradation products throughout the test system. Data will be presented to show the test substance mobility, degradation rate and components, degradate mobility, as well as the residues observed in the run-off and leachate components. The radioactivity mass balance and laboratory data generated to support the mass balance data will also be presented. This lysimeter design is capable of generating data to assess the potential fate, mobility, and leaching of chemicals and their degradates in situ in a cost effective manner. These data allow this lysimeter design to be used as a screening or modeling tool as well as to conduct or supplement data for more intensive field dissipation studies.

• OSTI ID: 367453
• Report Number(s): CONF-9511137--; ISBN 1-880611-03-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
DESIGN
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FIELD TESTS
LEACHATES
LYSIMETERS
MONITORING
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TRACER TECHNIQUES