Transport of Low‐Concentration Contaminants in Saturated Earthen Barriers

Abstract

Laboratory tests indicate that a one‐dimensional advective‐dispersive transport model for reactive solutes provides reasonable estimates of the breakthrough of low‐concentration organic contaminants in saturated fine‐grained earthen barriers. Based upon this transport model, a design/analysis methodology and respective guidelines are developed for earthen barriers used in waste disposal applications. The limitations and restrictions of the model are discussed and fundamental variables affecting the transport are parametrically analyzed. Transport of low‐concentration trichloroethylene at a selected study site was selected for illustrating the presented procedure.