An empirical model describing the dissolution of entrapped DNAPLS in variable aperture fractures

The goal of this study was to develop an empirical model describing the dissolution of entrapped DNAPLs in variable aperture fractures. Eight long-term dissolution experiments were conducted in two laboratory-scale dolomitic limestone fractures. The effluent concentration profiles revealed three distinct stages of dissolution: the initial pseudo-steady stage, the transient stage and the tailing stage. The majority of the mass removal occurred during the initial pseudo steady and early transient stages of dissolution. The data from the dissolution experiments were used in conjunction with statistical techniques to develop a continuous empirical model describing initial pseudo-steady and transient stage dissolution in variable aperture fractures.