Investigation of aqueous and non-aqueous phase liquid migration in double-porosity soil using digital image analysis

Abstract

The development activity of the country has played a part in climate change and natural disasters, which lead to a negative influence on the geo-environment and health. The issues of leakage and spillage of Non- Aqueous Phase Liquids (NAPLs) and Aqueous Phase Liquids (APLs) contribute to groundwater contamination, resulting in groundwater pollution and rendering the quality of groundwater unsafe for drinking and agriculture. Ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all were the goal and target of the 2030 United Nations agenda for sustainable development, consisting of a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. This paper investigates the aqueous and non-aqueous phase liquid migrations in the deformable double-porosity soil, which has become important for sustainability of groundwater utilisation and a comprehensive understanding of the behaviour of liquid migration into the groundwater. An experiment model was conducted to study the pattern and behaviour of aqueous and non- aqueous phase liquid migration in deformable double-porosity soil using digital image processing technique. The results of the experiments show that the flow of the APL and NAPL migration was not uniformly downward. Faster migration occurs at the cracked soil surface condition compared to other locations on the soil surface that were not cracked, even when not using liquid such as toluene. The factors that significantly influence the APL and NAPL migration are the structure of the soil sample, fracture pattern of the soil sample, physical interaction bonding between the liquid and soil sample, and the capillary pressure of the fluid. This study indicates that digital image analysis provides detailed information to facilitate researchers to better understand an d simulate the pattern of liquids migration characteristics as well as to ensure sustainable consumption of groundwater.