Laboratoty columns: Construction, packing and preliminary tests

Abstract

Due to easy operation, low cost and the useful information provided, laboratory columnspacked with sediments are widely used for saturated transport studies. These include studiesof hydrochemistry, environmental impact, contamination, chemical reaction kinetics, andpreservation of water resources. The wide use of experimental miscible tracer displacementdoes not usually include descriptions of the steps followed in constructing, packing, andcalibrating the columns. The fact is that the various tasks involved in column construction, ifnot carefully planned and executed, may lead to results that are difficult to interpret or aredownright meaningless, let alone a waste of time. Based on previous experience, this paperdescribes the sequential steps in column construction and packing, as well as the type of teststhat need to be carried out before using the column.