| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/N23493/01 |
| Title: |
UNSATURATED ZONE PROCESSES: FEASABILITY OF EXCESS AIR AS AN INDICATOR OF VOC ENTRAINMENT |
| Principal Investigator: |
Elliot, Dr T |
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| Department: |
Sch Planning Architecture and Civil Eng |
| Organisation: |
Queen's University of Belfast |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 October 2000 |
Ends: |
30 September 2002 |
Value (£): |
62,328
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Assess/Remediate Contamination |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Environment |
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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The transport of contaminant volatile compounds/gases in the unsaturated zone of an aquifer can occur by diffusion and by advection in both gas and liquid phases, with consequent mass transfer and environmental impact on groundwaters. Currently, there is no natural analogue that predicts how contaminants move in/out of solution at the water table. If such an analogue exists, the spatial and temporal information gained would be invaluable for modelling of transverse dispersion and natural attenuation processes at the gas-water interface. Potentially the study of natural air tracers (eg Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, N2) dissolving at recharge in the subsurface will be an analogue indicator of the dynamics of gas transport in the unsaturated zone and recharge pathways for volatiles. The proposed EPSRC research is a laboratory-scale feasibility study to identify and characterise the controlling physical factors of natural dissolved excess air trace components occurring during unsaturated zone groundwater movement and subsequent groundwater recharge. Laboratory column experiments using sensitive trace levels of natural dissolved excess air trace components occurring during unsaturated zone groundwater movement and subsequent groundwater recharge. Laboratory column experiments using sensitive trace levels of natural dissolved atmospheric gases (eg noble gases and also SF6 and CFCs as analogues for organic volatiles movement) will be employed to identify the systematics of entrainment of these gases from the atmosphere (in the unsaturated zone) into grounwater.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.qub.ac.uk |