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The Role of Diffusion and the Modelling of its Impact on Groundwater Quality

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Advances in Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASEN2,volume 9))

Abstract

Diffusion involves the movement of an element or chemical compound (eg. contaminants in a landfill or contaminated soil) from points of higher chemical potential (concentration) to points of lower potential (concentration). It can occur in air, in fluids and even in solids. Examples of situations where diffusion is important include:

  • the design of covers for sulphidic mine tailings to minimize the diffusion of oxygen from the atmosphere through the pores of cover soils and into the tailings and hence minimize the problems of groundwater contamination due to acid mine drainage [Yanful, 1993];

  • the design of liners for waste disposal facilities where chemicals can diffuse through plastic liners (eg. High Density Polyethylene, HDPE, geomembranes), clayey liners and, sometimes, unsaturated granular layers and into the groundwater [Rowe et al., 1995b];

  • the design of remediation schemes for contaminated soils where the diffusion of contaminants from a concentrated source (eg. a spill of dense non aqueous phase liquid; DNAPLs) into groundwater limit the effectiveness of techniques involving pumping (and treating) of the contaminated groundwater [Grubb & Sittar, 1995].

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geotechnical Research Centre, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5B9, Canada

    R. Kerry Rowe

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  1. R. Kerry Rowe
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Mustafa M. Aral

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© 1996 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Rowe, R.K. (1996). The Role of Diffusion and the Modelling of its Impact on Groundwater Quality. In: Aral, M.M. (eds) Advances in Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation. NATO ASI Series, vol 9. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0205-3_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0205-3_18

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-6576-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-0205-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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