Sulfur Hexafluoride Gas Tracer Studies in Streams

• Published in: Journal of environmental engineering (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 124; no. 8; pp. 752 - 760
• Main Authors: Hibbs, David E, Parkhill, Kenneth L, Gulliver, John S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Reston, VA American Society of Civil Engineers 01.08.1998
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Continental surface waters; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Freshwater; Natural water pollution; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; TECHNICAL PAPERS; Water treatment and pollution; United States; North America; Wisconsin; America; Volatile organic compounds; Tracer technique; Mass transfer coefficient; Surface waters; Residence time; Pollutant behavior; Sulfur hexafluoride; Stream; Water pollution; Dispersions; Air water interface; Experimental study
• ISSN: 0733-9372; 1943-7870
• DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(1998)124:8(752)

The air-water mass transfer coefficients, dispersion coefficients, and mean residence times in two experimental streams and one natural stream are measured using a variation of the standard volatile tracer-dye technique. Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is used as the volatile tracer and rhodamine WT is used as the conservative tracer. The low limit of quantification of SF6 makes it possible to inject SF6-rich water into many streams and avoid complications with dosing a stream with a gaseous tracer. The experimental methods are described in detail. The SF6 measurements were extremely precise, producing smooth concentration time curves. The SF6 measurements collected in side-by-side experimental channels yielded similar values of the gas transfer coefficient.