Dispersion of chloroform in a saturated porous media

Abstract

An experimental investigation into the dispersion of chloroform in a saturated porous media was performed. A plexiglass sand box model was built in the laboratory, and a steady, uniform flow was established in a saturated, homogeneous, isotropic porous media. As a contaminant, a point source of chloroform solution was introduced into the media. In the initial experiments, chloroform solution was introduced as an instantaneous source, while in the later experiments it was injected as a continuous source. Samples were collected at different locations along and perpendicular to the direction of flow at regular time intervals, and the concentration of the samples were determined using the gas chromatograph.

The results of the experiments were used in the analytical solution of the advection-dispersion equation to determine the longitudinal and transverse dispersion coefficients for chloroform in a saturated porous media. Also, the development of the chloroform plume and the attentuation effect was observed. Furthermore, the distribution coefficient K for chloroform was determined.