Influence of Environmental Conditions in Fate and Transport of ERCs in a 3D Soil Bed Model: Spatial and Temporal Assessment in a Sandy Soil

摘要

Chemical, biological, and canine detection of buried explosive devices (BEDs) rely on the presence of explosive related compounds (ERCs) near the soil-atmospheric surface. ERC distribution near this surface and its relation to the location of BEDs is controlled by fate and transport processes. Experimental work was conducted in a 3D laboratory-scale SoilBed system to determine the effect of cyclic rainfall, evaporation, temperature, and solar radiation on on the fate, transport and detection of ERCs near soil surfaces. Experiments were conducted by burying a TNT/DNT source under the soil surface, and applying different rainfall and light radiation cycles while monitoring salt tracers and TNT solute concentrations temporally and spatially within the SoilBed. Transport of non-reactive solutes was highly influenced by the cyclic variations on water flux, water content, evaporation, and influx concentrations. Concentrations of TNT and other ERCs were further affected by vapor transport and sorptive and degradation processes.