WATER INFILTRATION THROUGH DIESEL-CONTAMINATED SOIL

ABSTRACT

The water infiltration characteristics through soil contaminated by diesel was investigated. Columns were packed with soil containing 15, 10, 5, 1, and 0 percent diesel on mass basis. Two soil types were used, namely, clay loam and sand. The results showed that the water infiltration rate through clay loam soil containing 1 percent diesel was about 50 percent of its value through diesel free soil. This relative rate dropped to less than 35 and 25 percent when soil contaminated with 5 and 10 percent diesel was used, respectively. Increasing the initial diesel concentration beyond 10 percent does not cause further significant drop in the water infiltration rate. Similar trend was observed when the sandy soil was used. However, the effect of initial diesel concentration on the water infiltration rate was less significant compared to the results obtained using the clay loam soil. The relative infiltration rates through the sandy soil ranged from about 80 percent in the sand containing 1 percent diesel to less than 35 percent in sand containing 15 percent diesel. The variation of the relative infiltration rate with degree of diesel saturation does not appear to be linear. Post experiment dissection of the columns showed that water partially displaced diesel pushing it down to lower soil layers. The percentage of diesel displaced by water in the sandy soil was higher than that in the clay loam soil.

Keywords:

• Infiltration
• Diesel
• Soil

Acknowledgments