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Remobilization of residual non-aqueous phase liquid in porous media by freeze-thaw cycles.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Singh, K; Niven, RK; Senden, TJ; Turner, ML; Sheppard, AP; Middleton, JP; Knackstedt, MA
Published in: Environ Sci Technol
April 15, 2011

The pore-scale behavior of a nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL) trapped as residual contamination in a porous medium, subject to freeze-thaw cycles, was investigated by X-ray microcomputed tomography. It is shown that freeze-thaw cycles cause significant NAPL remobilization in the direction of the freezing front, due to the rupture and transport of a significant proportion of (supposedly entrapped) larger multipore NAPL ganglia. Significant NAPL remains in place, however, due to substantial ganglion fragmentation into single- and subpore ganglia. The contraction of branched ganglia into more rounded forms, especially near the top surface, is also observed. Three freezing-induced mechanisms are proposed to explain the results. The findings have important implications for NAPL contamination in cold regions, and for the behavior of water-hydrocarbon systems on the Earth and other planets.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Environ Sci Technol

DOI

EISSN

1520-5851

Publication Date

April 15, 2011

Volume

45

Issue

8

Start / End Page

3473 / 3478

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • X-Ray Microtomography
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Porosity
  • Phase Transition
  • Permeability
  • Freezing
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Environmental Monitoring
 

Citation

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MLA
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Singh, K., Niven, R. K., Senden, T. J., Turner, M. L., Sheppard, A. P., Middleton, J. P., & Knackstedt, M. A. (2011). Remobilization of residual non-aqueous phase liquid in porous media by freeze-thaw cycles. Environ Sci Technol, 45(8), 3473–3478. https://doi.org/10.1021/es200151g
Singh, Kamaljit, Robert K. Niven, Timothy J. Senden, Michael L. Turner, Adrian P. Sheppard, Jill P. Middleton, and Mark A. Knackstedt. “Remobilization of residual non-aqueous phase liquid in porous media by freeze-thaw cycles.Environ Sci Technol 45, no. 8 (April 15, 2011): 3473–78. https://doi.org/10.1021/es200151g.
Singh K, Niven RK, Senden TJ, Turner ML, Sheppard AP, Middleton JP, et al. Remobilization of residual non-aqueous phase liquid in porous media by freeze-thaw cycles. Environ Sci Technol. 2011 Apr 15;45(8):3473–8.
Singh, Kamaljit, et al. “Remobilization of residual non-aqueous phase liquid in porous media by freeze-thaw cycles.Environ Sci Technol, vol. 45, no. 8, Apr. 2011, pp. 3473–78. Pubmed, doi:10.1021/es200151g.
Singh K, Niven RK, Senden TJ, Turner ML, Sheppard AP, Middleton JP, Knackstedt MA. Remobilization of residual non-aqueous phase liquid in porous media by freeze-thaw cycles. Environ Sci Technol. 2011 Apr 15;45(8):3473–3478.
Journal cover image

Published In

Environ Sci Technol

DOI

EISSN

1520-5851

Publication Date

April 15, 2011

Volume

45

Issue

8

Start / End Page

3473 / 3478

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • X-Ray Microtomography
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Porosity
  • Phase Transition
  • Permeability
  • Freezing
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Environmental Monitoring