Diffusion of chemicals is one of the three main processes of solute movement in sedimentary porewaters, that is, diffusion, advection (flow) and biologically induced exchange near the sediment water interface (mainly irrigation). Chemical diffusion is the net transport that is caused by thermally generated random motions of particles in “solution”, may they be ions, molecules or colloids. The net result of this phenomenon is the transfer of a solute, that is, a flux, from regions of high concentration to those of low concentration. In a closed system, this flux leads to an eventual homogenization of the solute concentration, if no other processes act to maintain the gradients (Figure D23).
Illustration of diffusion is a tube containing pure water and water with dissolved dye particles (black circles).
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Bibliography
Berner, R.A., 1980. Early Diagenesis: A Theoretical Approach. Princeton University Press.
Boudreau, B.P., 1997. Diagenetic Models and Their Implementation. Springer-Verlag.
Lerman, A., 1979. Geochemical Processes: Water and Sediment Environments. John Wiley & Sons.
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© 1978 Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross, Inc.
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Boudreau, B.P. (1978). Diffusion, chemical. In: Sedimentology. Encyclopedia of Earth Science. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg . https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-31079-7_68
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-31079-7_68
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