Diffusion coefficients of sulfate and methane in marine sediments: Influence of porosity

Journal Article · Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(93)90368-7· OSTI ID:6708544

Iversen, N ^[1]; Joergensen, B B ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Aalborg (Denmark)
2. Univ. of Aarhus (Denmark)

By using the authors' proposed relation, the whole-sediment diffusion coefficients can be calculated from D[sub 0] and [phi] using a constant (n) over a wide porosity range (0.4-0.9), with a better fit than is possible by using Archie's relation with a constant exponent. In the porosity range of 0.7-0.9, there is no significant difference between the calculated diffusion coefficients using either relation. This also would be expected because the difference between their approximation of ([theta][sup 2]) and the previous approximations of ([theta][sup 2]) are minor. The general usefulness of their relation still needs to be tested with results from other diffusing species. One example is shown where whole-sediment diffusion coefficients of tritiated water measured in lake sediments (Sweerts et al., 1991) are fitted using Archie's relation and the authors' relation. Also, for this species, their relation seems to give a slightly better estimate of the whole-sediment diffusion coefficients at the lower porosities, while there is no difference between the estimated diffusion coefficients at porosities above 0.7. To use their relationship, a value of n = 3 seems to be the best choice for clay-silt sediments and, based on only a few results (four porosity values), n = 2 seems to be the best choice for sandy sediments. 29 refs., 8 figs., 1 tab.

• OSTI ID: 6708544
• Journal Information: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (United States), Vol. 57:3; ISSN 0016-7037
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
METHANE
DIFFUSION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
SEDIMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
POROSITY
SULFATES
CORRELATIONS
SEAWATER
TRACER TECHNIQUES
ALKANES
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
MASS TRANSFER
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
WATER
540311* - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- Radiometric Techniques- (1990-)