Transport of a radioactive salt through a semi-infinite column of porous medium: a physical model

A model study of the transport of radioactive tracer through a porous medium was carried out in columns of sand into which a radioactive salt solution, sodium-24 chloride, was introduced continuously. Mathematical equations were developed to describe the effluent concentration, for a semi-infinite column, during the transient phase for variable as well as for the constant input concentration. Furthermore, inspection of the relevant equation for effluent concentrations from long columns indicated that dispersion should be negligible in the steady state. The experimental data of effluent concentrations gave accurate agreement with the theoretical breakthrough curves predicted by the mathematical equations, and with the steady state concentration value