A LABORATORY EXPERIMENT DEMONSTRATING THE WAY IN WHICH A STEAM BARRIER PREVENTS THE DISSOLUTION OF SALT BURIED IN A FLOODED PACKED BED

摘要

We have conducted a laboratory experiment to demonstrate a way in which a solid material can be prevented from dissolving in water. The differential solubility of salt (NaCl) in steam vs water is exploited. As long as the temperature of the area and water surrounding the salt is maintained above the boiling point of water, the salt cannot dissolve. This phenomenon, known as the thermal barrier, has far-reaching implications for preventing the dispersal of contaminants present near groundwater sources (e.g., created by underground explosions).