Evaluation of synchrotron X-ray computerized microtomography for the visualization of transport processes in low-porosity materials

Synchrotron-source X-ray computerized microtomography (CMT) is evaluated as a method to visualize transport processes. We conclude that CMT is adequate for visualization of transport experiments if the right conditions exist. Namely, 1) not much more than one-order-of-magnitude range in concentratio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of contaminant hydrology 2005-07, Vol.78 (3), p.167-183
Main Authors: Altman, Susan J., Peplinski, William J., Rivers, Mark L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absorption
Biological Transport
computed tomography
Computerized microtomography
Contaminant transport
contaminants
Crystalline rock
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics
Exact sciences and technology
groundwater contamination
groundwater flow
Hydrogeology
Hydrology. Hydrogeology
image analysis
Imaging, Three-Dimensional
Minerals - analysis
Minerals - chemistry
Permeability
Pollution, environment geology
Pore space
Porosity
porous media
Soil
Synchrotron radiation
synchrotron X-ray computerized microtomography
Synchrotrons
Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods
Visualization
X-radiation
X-ray attenuation
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Summary:Synchrotron-source X-ray computerized microtomography (CMT) is evaluated as a method to visualize transport processes. We conclude that CMT is adequate for visualization of transport experiments if the right conditions exist. Namely, 1) not much more than one-order-of-magnitude range in concentration data is needed for the study, 2) the pore space in the samples are greater than approximately 2–50 μm, depending on the sample size and system setup; 3) the sample is fine-grained enough so that a representative elemental volume (REV) can be contained by a 2–10 mm diameter sample, and 4) the transport process is slow enough that significant changes do not occur within the 25–50 min (and possibly less in the future) needed to collect data for one three-dimensional image. Absorption edge difference imaging (AEDI) in association with CMT is introduced as a method to enhance pore-space visualization. We successfully imaged the pore space in a low-porosity granodiorite, diorite and fine-grained granite cores and a higher-porosity soil aggregate sample. We found that the pore space important to transport in the core samples was smaller than what we were able to visualize with CMT. We also made rudimentary associations of minerals with pore-space location.
ISSN:0169-7722
1873-6009
DOI:10.1016/j.jconhyd.2005.05.004