Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Microfluidic Devices for Characterizing Pore-scale Event Processes in Porous Media for Oil Recovery Applications
Published on: January 16, 2018
Estimating the change of porosity in the saturated zone during air sparging
Yih-jin Tsai1, Yu-chia Kuo, Tsu-chi Chen
1Department of Environment and Resources Engineering, Diwan College of Management, Tainan, Taiwan, China. yjtsai@mail.dwu.edu.tw
Abstract:
Air sparging is a remedial method for groundwater. The remedial region is similar to the air flow region in the saturated zone. If soil particles are transported during air sparging, the porosity distributions in the saturated zone change, which may alter the flow path of the air. To understand better the particle movement, this study performed a sandbox test to estimate the soil porosity change during air sparging. A clear fracture was formed and the phenomenon of particle movement was observed when the air injection was started. The moved sand filled the porous around the fracture and the reparked sand filled the fracture, reducing the porosity around the fracture. The results obtained from the photographs of the sandbox, the current measurements and the direct sand sample measurements were close to each other and are credible. Therefore, air injection during air sparging causes sand particle movement of sand, altering the characteristic of the sand matrix and the air distribution.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Porosity and Absorption of Aggregate
When all pores in an aggregate are filled with water, the aggregate is considered saturated and surface-dry. If left in dry air, water will evaporate until the aggregate...
Porosity in Cement Paste
The balance of water to cement in the mix is critical—it...
Measurement of Air Content in Concrete
The pressure method,...
Permeability of Concrete

