Project Details
Projekt
Laterally and time resolved monitoring of concentration gradient changes
Applicant
Professor Dr. Günter Gauglitz
Subject Area
Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Limnology, Urban Water Management, Water Chemistry, Integrated Water Resources Management
Term
from 2004 to 2011
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5470602
The understanding of reactive transport in porous media requires time-resolved and laterally resolved monitoring. Optical methods give the chance to quantify concentrations, to determine gradients, and to measure changes in space and time. The application of principles such as reflectometric and refractometric methods allows the acquisition of an ensemble of experimental data necessary for comparisons with model simulations. In this respect, the optical methods will be used with consideration to four aspects in cooperation with other partners of this group, and in addition to electrochemical approaches (TP 6): (1) Time-resolved sensing at the front and at the end of a model reactor system within interfaces for reaction processes and enhanced by catalytical sites (with TP 1). (2) Observation of refractive index gradients as a result of transport processes across the interfaces between water and polluted liquids (with TP 2). (3) Semi-macroscopic measurements in experimental model tanks resolved in time and space to detect processes via colour changes using a CCD or applying chemical sensors to determine hydrocarbon pollutants with a fibre array structure (with TP 3 and 4). (4) Numerical modelling in microchannels to understand diffusion and sorption processes by application of standard flow software based on Navier-Stokes equations as a reference to software development by partners (with TP 7). Modification of optical sensing principles relevant to geological sciences including integrated optical new devices will allow an significantly improved understanding of processes, acquisition of the essential data material, and perspectives for future research.
DFG Programme
Research Units
