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In situ measurement of the coefficient of molecular diffusion in fine-grained till

dc.contributor.advisorHendry, M. Jimen_US
dc.contributor.advisorBarbour, S. Leeen_US
dc.creatorReifferscheid, Laura Jeanen_US
dc.date.accessioned2007-07-11T13:53:07Zen_US
dc.date.accessioned2013-01-04T04:43:21Z
dc.date.available2008-07-31T08:00:00Zen_US
dc.date.available2013-01-04T04:43:21Z
dc.date.created2007en_US
dc.date.issued2007en_US
dc.date.submitted2007en_US
dc.description.abstractDiffusion dominated systems, including naturally occurring aquitards and engineered barrier systems, are important components for long-term waste containment. Diffusive transport can be quantified using the effective coefficient of diffusion (De) and the effective porosity (ne). These are empirical parameters that are commonly measured in a laboratory setting. The purpose of this research was to develop a field-based technique to perform in situ measurement of diffusive transport rates. Results from this measurement technique were evaluated by comparison with the results of conventional laboratory testing and back-analysis of a previously determined large-scale field diffusion profile. In situ diffusion testing was performed on two wells completed in diffusion-dominated zone of a till aquitard. Laboratory diffusion cell tests were conducted on core samples obtained from the screened zones of the diffusion wells. Diffusion testing was completed using conservative isotopes of water as tracers.A finite element model was used to back-analyze results of laboratory and field experiments to determine the De values that best describe each system. Comparison of the field results with the laboratory results obtained from this study as well as previous studies indicate the field system is a useful method for measurement of De.Back-analysis of a previously determined large-scale field deuterium profile for this aquitard showed very precise measurement of De is not required for estimation of contaminant transport in thick till aquitard systems. More accurate measurement may be more useful for barrier systems such as clay liners or slurry walls, where the characteristics of the diffusion-dominated zone are easier to define and the transport path is shorter relative to the transport time.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10388/etd-07112007-135307en_US
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.subjectin situen_US
dc.subjectdiffusionen_US
dc.subjectclay aquitarden_US
dc.titleIn situ measurement of the coefficient of molecular diffusion in fine-grained tillen_US
dc.type.genreThesisen_US
dc.type.materialtexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentGeological Sciencesen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineGeological Sciencesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Saskatchewanen_US
thesis.degree.levelMastersen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (M.Sc.)en_US

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