Remobilization of residual non-aqueous phase liquid in porous media by freeze - Thaw cycles

Kamaljit Singh; Robert K. Niven; Timothy J. Senden; Michael L. Turner; Adrian P. Sheppard; Jill P. Middleton; Mark A. Knackstedt

doi:10.1021/es200151g

Remobilization of residual non-aqueous phase liquid in porous media by freeze - Thaw cycles

Kamaljit Singh, Robert K. Niven, Timothy J. Senden, Michael L. Turner, Adrian P. Sheppard, Jill P. Middleton, Mark A. Knackstedt

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

38 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The pore-scale behavior of a nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL) trapped as residual contamination in a porous medium, subject to freeze-thaw cycles, was investigated by X-ray microcomputed tomography. It is shown that freeze-thaw cycles cause significant NAPL remobilization in the direction of the freezing front, due to the rupture and transport of a significant proportion of (supposedly entrapped) larger multipore NAPL ganglia. Significant NAPL remains in place, however, due to substantial ganglion fragmentation into single- and subpore ganglia. The contraction of branched ganglia into more rounded forms, especially near the top surface, is also observed. Three freezing-induced mechanisms are proposed to explain the results. The findings have important implications for NAPL contamination in cold regions, and for the behavior of water-hydrocarbon systems on the Earth and other planets.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	3473-3478
Number of pages	6
Journal	Environmental Science and Technology
Volume	45
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/es200151g
Publication status	Published - 15 Apr 2011

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title = "Remobilization of residual non-aqueous phase liquid in porous media by freeze - Thaw cycles",

abstract = "The pore-scale behavior of a nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL) trapped as residual contamination in a porous medium, subject to freeze-thaw cycles, was investigated by X-ray microcomputed tomography. It is shown that freeze-thaw cycles cause significant NAPL remobilization in the direction of the freezing front, due to the rupture and transport of a significant proportion of (supposedly entrapped) larger multipore NAPL ganglia. Significant NAPL remains in place, however, due to substantial ganglion fragmentation into single- and subpore ganglia. The contraction of branched ganglia into more rounded forms, especially near the top surface, is also observed. Three freezing-induced mechanisms are proposed to explain the results. The findings have important implications for NAPL contamination in cold regions, and for the behavior of water-hydrocarbon systems on the Earth and other planets.",

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AU - Singh, Kamaljit

AU - Niven, Robert K.

AU - Senden, Timothy J.

AU - Turner, Michael L.

AU - Sheppard, Adrian P.

AU - Middleton, Jill P.

AU - Knackstedt, Mark A.

PY - 2011/4/15

Y1 - 2011/4/15

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AB - The pore-scale behavior of a nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL) trapped as residual contamination in a porous medium, subject to freeze-thaw cycles, was investigated by X-ray microcomputed tomography. It is shown that freeze-thaw cycles cause significant NAPL remobilization in the direction of the freezing front, due to the rupture and transport of a significant proportion of (supposedly entrapped) larger multipore NAPL ganglia. Significant NAPL remains in place, however, due to substantial ganglion fragmentation into single- and subpore ganglia. The contraction of branched ganglia into more rounded forms, especially near the top surface, is also observed. Three freezing-induced mechanisms are proposed to explain the results. The findings have important implications for NAPL contamination in cold regions, and for the behavior of water-hydrocarbon systems on the Earth and other planets.

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Remobilization of residual non-aqueous phase liquid in porous media by freeze - Thaw cycles

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