Sulfadimethoxine transport in soil columns in relation to sorbable and non-sorbable tracers

In this study, miscible displacement experiment and batch sorption experiments were performed with sulfadimethoxine, dye tracer, Brilliant Blue FCF (BB) and a conservative tracer (bromide) to depict, analyse and interpret transport paths of sulfadimethoxine in undisturbed and disturbed soil columns. Batch sorption experiment revealed that sorption potential increased in the order: Brilliant Blue FCF > sulfadimethoxine > bromide. The horizontal spatial patterns of sulfadimethoxine and the tracers were analysed in each depth, and selective samples were taken in horizontal cross-section. Non-adsorbable and conservative tracer, bromide spread more widely into longitudinal and horizontal direction than sulfadimethoxine and Brilliant Blue FCF, since adsorption reduced transversal dispersion of the sulfadimethoxine and dye. In non-stained area, residual concentrations of sulfadimethoxine were relatively lower than in stained areas. Therefore, Brilliant Blue FCF distribution can be used to approximate sulfadimethoxine movement in soil. However, presence of preferential flow networks found in undisturbed soil cores can enhance mobility of sulfadimethoxine and the tracers, due to faster flow velocities and non-equilibrium adsorption. Our findings showed that other dye tracers may also be applicable to identify transport pathways of various organic contaminants, of which physico-chemical properties are similar to those of the dye tracers. Preferential flow should be considered for drinking water managements and transport modelling, since this allows faster pollutants transport from their sources, and create critical consequences for groundwater quality and solute transport modelling.