Diffusion of TCE Through Soil-Bentonite Slurry Walls

Abstract

Diffusion experiments performed using both a dissolved solution of trichloroethylene (TCE) and a pool of free phase TCE adjacent to a simulated soil-bentonite (SB) wall are described. These tests examine a multi-layer system that includes both contaminated sand and a SB barrier. Results obtained from experiments with dissolved TCE as the primary source are shown to be consistent with those obtained with free-phase TCE as the source of contaminant. Diffusion and sorption coefficients of a soil-bentonite slurry wall are reported to be 3.5 × 10⁻¹⁰ m ² /s and 0 cm ³ /g, respectively. These diffusion and sorption coefficients were used to evaluate the effectiveness of a hypothetical SB slurry wall located adjacent to a TCE spill.

Keywords:

• Diffusion
• trichloroethylene
• slurry wall
• soil-bentonite

Acknowledgements

The research presented in this paper was performed with funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. The research reported herein was conducted when both authors were at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.

Notes

¹ Based on Petrov and Rowe (1998).

¹ Based on Quigley (1991).