Infiltration characteristics of non-aqueous phase liquids in undisturbed loessal soil cores

The widespread contamination of soils and aquifers by non-aqueous phase liquids （NAPL）, such as crude oil, poses serious environmental and health hazards globally. Understanding the infiltration characteristics of NAPL in soil is crucial in mitigating or remediating soil contamination. The infiltration characteristics of crude and diesel oils into undisturbed loessal soil cores, collected in polymethyl methacrylate cylindrical columns, were investigated under a constant fluid head （3 era） of either crude oil or diesel oil. The infiltration rate of both crude and diesel oils decreased exponentially as wetting depth increased with time. Soil core size and bulk density both had significant effects on NAPL infiltration through the undisturbed soil cores; a smaller core size or a greater bulk density could reduce oil penetration to depth. Compacting soil in areas susceptible to oil spills may be an effective stratage to reduce contamination. The infiltration of NAPL into soil cores was spatially anisotropic and heterogeneous, thus recording the data at four points on the soil core is a good stratage to improve the accuracy of experimental results. Our results revealed that crude and diesel oils, rather than their components, have a practical value for remediation of contaminated loessal soils.

Colloid-facilitated release of polybrominated diphenyl ethers at an e-waste recycling site: evidence from undisturbed soil core leaching experiments

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a class of persistent organic pollutants, have been frequently detected in soil at e-waste recycling sites. However, the key factors controlling the transport of PBDEs from surface soil to the vadose zone and groundwater are unclear. Here, colloid-enhanced leaching of PBDEs from undisturbed soil cores collected at an e-waste recycling site in Tianjin, China, is reported. Spatially heterogeneous release of colloids and PBDEs was observed in all the tested soil cores under chemical and hydrodynamic perturbations, indicating the presence of preferential flow paths. Colloid concentration in the effluent significantly increased as ionic strength decreased (from 10 to 0.01 mmol/L), probably due to the stronger electrostatic repulsion between colloidal particles and the soil matrix at lower ionic strength. In contrast, colloid mobilization was not significantly affected by the changes in pH of the influent (from 4.0 to 10.0) and flow rate (from a Darcy velocity of 1.5 to 6.0 cm/h). The concentrations of 2,2′,3,3′,4,4′,5,5′,6,6′-decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209), the predominant PBDE congener at the site, detected in the leachate (ranging from 1.09 to 3.43 ng/L) were much lower than previously reported results from packed column leaching tests, and were positively correlated with colloid concentrations. This indicates that remobilization of colloids at e-waste recycling sites can promote the leaching and downward migration of PBDEs from surface soil. The findings highlight the potential risk of surface soil PBDE contamination to groundwater quality and call for further understanding of colloid-facilitated transport for predicting the fate of PBDEs at e-waste recycling sites.

Study of the Bearing Capacity at the Variable Cross-Section of A Riser- Surface Casing Composite Pile

Reducing the cost of offshore platform construction is an urgent issue for marginal oilfield development.The offshore oil well structure includes a riser and a surface casing.The riser,surface casing and oil well cement can be considered special variable cross-section piles.Replacing or partially replacing the steel pipe pile foundation with a variable cross-section pile to provide the required bearing capacity for an offshore oil platform can reduce the cost of foundation construction and improve the economic efficiency of production.In this paper,the finite element analysis method is used to investigate the variable cross-section bearing mode of composite piles composed of a riser and a surface casing in saturated clay under a vertical load.The calculation formula of the bearing capacity at the variable section is derived based on the theory of spherical cavity expansion,the influencing factors of the bearing capacity coefficient N_(c) are revealed,and the calculation method of N_(c) is proposed.By comparing the calculation results with the results of the centrifuge test,the accuracy and applicability of the calculation method are verified.The results show that the riser composite pile has a rigid core in the soil under the variable cross-section,which increases the bearing capacity at the variable cross-section.

Effects of transient flow conditions on colloid-facilitated release of decabromodiphenyl ether:Implications for contaminant mobility at e-waste recycling sites

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers(PBDEs)are ubiquitous contaminants,especially in the soil and groundwater of contaminated sites and landfills.Notably,2,20,3,30,4,40,5,50,6,60-decabromodiphenyl ether(BDE-209),one of the most frequently and abundantly detected PBDE congeners in the environment,has recently been designated as a new pollutant subject to rigorous control in China.Colloid-facilitated transport is a key mechanism for the release of PBDEs from surface soils and their migration in the aquifer,but the effects of hydrodynamic conditions,particularly transient flow,on colloid-facilitated release of PBDEs are not well understood.Herein,we examined the effects of typical transient flow conditions on the release characteristics of colloids and BDE-209 from surface soil collected from an e-waste recycling site by undisturbed soil core leaching tests involving multiple dry–wet cycles(with different drying durations)and freeze–thaw cycles.We observed significant positive correlations between BDE-209 and colloid concentrations in the leachate in both the dry–wet and freeze–thaw leaching experiments,highlighting the critical role of colloids in facilitating BDE-209 release.However,colloids mobilized during the dry–wet cycles contained higher contents of BDE-209 than those in the freeze–thaw cycle tests,and the difference was primarily due to the more intensive disintegration of soil aggregates and elution of newly formed inorganic colloidal particles(mainly primary silicate minerals such as quartz and albite)with low BDE-209 content during the freeze–thaw process.These findings underscore the necessity of considering transient flow conditions when assessing the fate and risks of PBDEs at contaminated sites.

Vertical distribution of rare earth elements in a wetland soil core from the Sanjiang Plain in China

The objective of this study was to investigate the vertical distribution of rare earth elements （REEs） in a natural wetland soil core to understand the influence of natural and anthropogenic activities on geochemical behavior of REEs. A natural wetland soil core of 95 cm was collected from the Sanjiang Plain in China and sliced into 5 cm slices for analyses of REEs, Fe, Al, Mn, Sc, Y, and soil organic matter （SOM）. Results indicated that SOM was accumulated in the upper part of the soil core （0 to 20 cm depth）, while Fe and Mn was reductively leached from the upper part of the soil core and accumulated in the low part. The content of total REEs ranged from 137.9 to 225.9 mg/kg in the soil core. Content profiles obtained for all REEs were almost identical except for Ce. The highest contents of REEs generally occurred at about 20 cm depth, but enrichment factor （EF） of REEs except Ce was usually the highest in the surface horizon. Average EF ranged from 1.1 for La to 2.1 for Gd. The pronounced shift in EF occurred at about 40 cm depth and it gradually increased from 40 cm depth to surface （except for Ce）, probably suggesting anthropogenic atmospheric deposition of REEs. In comparison with chondrite, Eu was depleted in all horizons, while Ce was negatively anomalous in the top horizons and positively anomalous in the bottom horizons. This positive anomaly of Ce in the bottom horizons was due to its preferential adsorption on Fe and Mn oxides, relative to other REEs. Although both natural and anthropogenic activi-ties influence the geochemical behaviors of REEs in soils, enrichment or mobility of REEs is low in the natural wetland soil core of the San-jiang Plain.

A Comparison of Five Different Techniques to Determine Hydraulic Conductivity of a Riparian Soil in North Bavaria, Germany

Soil saturated hydraulic conductivity(K_s) is a predominant input factor when forecasting the vertical transport of contaminants through the soil or when estimating the flood retention capacity of the soil. Displacement of contaminants in the soil over extended periods of time can be attributed mainly to matrix flow, whereas flow through macropores becomes significant under untypically wet conditions, e.g., during spills or rain storms. To obtain matrix conductivities for a soil, the effects of macropores should be excluded.However, the K_s values of a soil profile are unlikely to be reflected solely by pedotransfer tables based on soil texture and bulk density.In this study, we examined five different methods(pedotransfer table, soil core, borehole permeameter, particle-size distribution curve, and instantaneous profile) to determine K_s values for a mercury-contaminated riparian soil for subsequent simulation of longterm mercury displacement toward groundwater. We found that the determined K_s values increased in the following order: borehole permeameter < particle-size distribution curve < pedotransfer table < instantaneous profile < soil core. The instantaneous profile method yielded K_s values of matrix flow, which additionally reflected the structure-related features of K_s values as provided by the soil core method. Despite being labor intensive and requiring expensive field sensors, the instantaneous profile method may provide the best representative in-situ K_s values for the studied site.

The behavior of a rectangular closed diaphragm wall when used as a bridge foundation

The rectangular closed diaphragm(RCD)wall is a new type of bridge foundation.Compared to barrette foundation,measuring the performance of RCD walls is relatively complicated because of their incorporation of a soil core.Using the FLAC3D software,this paper investigates the deformation properties,soil resistance and skin friction of a laterally loaded RCD wall as well as the settlement,axial force and load-sharing ratio of a vertically loaded RCD wall.Special attention is given to the analysis of factors that influence the performance of the soil core.It was found that under lateral loading,the RCD wall behaves as an end-bearing friction wall during the entire loading process.The relative displacement between the wall body and the soil core primarily occurs below the rotation point,and the horizontal displacement of the soil core is greater than that of the wall body.Under vertical loading,the degree of inner skin friction around the bottom of the soil core and the proportion of the loading supported by the soil core increase with increased cross-section size.The wall depth is directly proportional to the loading supported by the outer skin friction and the tip resistance of the wall body and is inversely proportional to the loading borne by the soil core.