Abstract
Partitioning Interwell Tracer Test (PITT), which is used for the chromatographic separation of Break through curves (BTCs) of tracers, is useful to quantify the volume of Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids (NAPL) in contaminated aquifer. Since this separation is based on the partition law, it is most important to determine the partitioning coefficients of the tracers. However, the accuracy of the PITT would be influenced not only by the partitioning coefficient, but also by the tracer velocity. The effect of the latter factor on the accuracy has not been confirmed sufficiently yet, due to the lack of the basic research compared with the practical requirement. In this study, the effect of the tracer velocity on the accuracy of PITT was examined in laboratory column experiments. As a result from the experiments where five tracer velocities were set up, the accuracy of PITT was more improved as the velocity was lower. It would be caused by non-equilibrium partition of partitioning tracers into NAPL when the tracer velocity was higher, on the other hand, the more sufficient partition was achieved when the velocity was lower.
