Evaluation of laboratory techniques for measuring diffusion coefficients in sediments

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 25; no. 9; pp. 1605 - 1611
• Main Authors: Van Rees, Kenneth C. J, Sudicky, Edward A, Rao, P. Suresh C, Reddy, K. Ramesh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 01.09.1991
• Subjects: 540211 - Environment, Terrestrial- Basic Studies- Radiometric Techniques- (1990-); ACCURACY; BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; DATA; DIFFUSION; ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT; ERRORS; EVALUATION; EXPERIMENTAL DATA; HYDROGEN ISOTOPES; INFORMATION; ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS; ISOTOPES; LAKES; LIGHT NUCLEI; MASS TRANSFER; MEASURING METHODS; MONITORING; NUCLEI; NUMERICAL DATA; ODD-EVEN NUCLEI; PERMEABILITY; POLLUTION; RADIOISOTOPES; SEDIMENTS; SURFACE WATERS; TRACER TECHNIQUES; TRITIUM; WATER POLLUTION; YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es00021a012

Three methods for estimating the diffusion of solutes in sediments from Okeechobee lake, Fla., were compared. One method involved monitoring diffusion of a tracer (tritium) from an overlying water column into the sediment (the so-called reservoir method). The other methods involved measurement of diffusion of the solute from a spiked sediment column into either an overlying water column or into a tracer-free sediment column. The molecular diffusion coefficients estimated by the reservoir method were similar to those obtained by the other methods and the procedure was more efficient and less time-consuming. It could be used for laboratory studies and for in-situ measurements of solute diffusion in lake sediments.