Saturated hydraulic conductivity of Brunswick soil with aqueous benzene solution

Author

Thomas R. Pisciotta, New Jersey Institute of Technology

Document Type

Thesis

Date of Award

1-31-1986

Degree Name

Master of Science in Environmental Engineering - (M.S.)

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

First Advisor

John R. Schuring

Second Advisor

Dorairaja Raghu

Third Advisor

Paul N. Cheremisinoff

Abstract

Tests measuring saturated hydraulic conductivity and dispersivity were conducted on Brunswick soil using an aqueous solution of benzene. The tests were performed using a flexible wall permeameter which was modified to allow extraction of effluent samples immediately upon exit of the test specimen. Influent and effluent samples were analyzed with a gas chromatograph in order to quantify dispersion and sorption in the specimen.

The test was performed using a confining pressure of 70 psi. and a hydraulic gradient of 100.3. Using a sample statically compacted to 99.2% of the Modified Proctor maximum density and tap water as a permeant, stable saturated hydraulic conductivity of 3.2 x 10^-8 cm/s was obtained.

The permeant was changed to 500 mg/1 benzene and introduced into the permeameter. Owing to evaporative losses in the system, the actual influent permeant concentration in the sample ranged from 55 mg/1 to 335 mg/l. Tests were conducted with aqueous benzene solution permeants for 82 days.

A significant trend observed was a gradual decline in the saturated hydraulic conductivity from 3.8 x 10^-8 cm/s to 3.1 x 10^-8 cm/s from day 25 to the end of testing (day 82). This decreasing trend corresponded with a gradual increasing effluent concentration from 40 mg/1 to 125 mg/l. An inverse relationship is therefore indicated between the saturated hydraulic conductivity and the permeant concentration for this concentration range.

A mass balance was performed which showed that 11.4 mg of benzene per pore volume is unaccounted for in the effluent. Sorption and dispersion calculations indicated that approximately 373 meq/g of benzene is sorbed to the sample and 0.0001093 cm^{2//s is the coefficient of longitudinal dispersion.}

Additional research is necessary using standardized test procedures to more fully quantify the interactions between Brunswick soil and benzene solutions.

Recommended Citation

Pisciotta, Thomas R., "Saturated hydraulic conductivity of Brunswick soil with aqueous benzene solution" (1986). Theses. 3369.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/3369