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Effects of sorption and temperature on solute transport in unsaturated steady flow

Conference ·
OSTI ID:60623

It is known that temperature affects physical and chemical processes and that these processes may alter the transport of solutes in the environment. Laboratory column studies were performed in unsaturated flow conditions with a composite pulse containing iodide, cobalt, cesium and strontium each at 10/sup -3/ M. The experiments were performed with Bandelier Tuff and produced breakthrough curves that indicate significant changes in transport due to a temperature change from 25{sup 0}C to 5{sup 0} for nonconservative solutes. Also the interpretation of the temperature and sorption data suggest that the differences in transport between 5{sup 0}C and 25{sup 0}C for nonconservative solutes may be predicted in a qualitative manner from batch equilibrium and non-equilibrium sorption data and the theory of sorption used in deriving the modified Freundlich isotherm equation. These effects should be of concern in modeling and management of spills and waste disposal within this range of environmental temperatures.

Research Organization:
Environmental Science Group, HSE-12, Los Alamos National Lab., Los Alamos, NM 87545
OSTI ID:
60623
Report Number(s):
CONF-860317--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English