Application of the Stefan-Maxwell equations to determine limitations of Fick's Law when modeling organic vapor transport in sand columns
- Geological Survey, West Trenton, NY (USA)
- Univ. of Lowell, MA (USA)
The organic component of the vapor phase of a porous medium contaminated by an immiscible organic liquid can be significant enough to violate the condition of a dilute species diffusing in a bulk phase assumed by Fick's Law. The Stefan-Maxwell equations provide a more comprehensive model for quantifying steady state transport for a vapor phase composed of arbitrary proportions of its constituents. The application of both types of models to the analysis of column experiments demonstrates that use of a Fickian-based transport model can lead to significant overestimates of soil tortuosity constants. Further, the physical displacement of naturally occurring gases (e.g., O{sub 2}), predicted by the Stefan-Maxwell model but not by application of Fick's Law, can be attributed improperly to a sink term such as microbial degradation in a Fickian-based transport model.
- OSTI ID:
- 5465026
- Journal Information:
- Water Resources Research; (United States), Journal Name: Water Resources Research; (United States) Vol. 26:6; ISSN 0043-1397; ISSN WRERA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
540220 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EQUATIONS
FICK LAWS
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MATTER
MAXWELL EQUATIONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
POLLUTION
SAND
SOILS
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
VOLATILE MATTER
WATER POLLUTION