Investigation of the Vertical Infiltration of Spilled Oil in Soil Impacted by Root Netting and Surface Rainfall
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 150, Issue 8
Abstract
Inland oil spill accidents pose a negative impact on the health of the soil ecological system and human beings. The oil infiltration process is the main behavior of spilled oil, and its infiltration is influenced by many environmental factors like root netting and rainfall. This study was conducted to investigate the impact of these two important factors on the infiltration process and reduce the pollution of inland oil spill accidents. For root nettings, they can change the soil permeability and pore volume distribution, which are important in liquid infiltration, while rainwater can change the soil water content, thereby affecting the pressure, capillary force, and buoyancy force of spilled oil in the infiltration process. In the present study, these two unique factors of oil infiltration were investigated by detecting the infiltration front head and concentration distribution of spilled oil in soil layers with various root netting structures as well as the rainfall modes. It is found that root netting and surface rainfall critically affect oil infiltration in soil. The nettings with a finer mesh size and denser plant roots show a more significant effect on the infiltration process, particularly when their pore size is smaller than that of the soil. The netting’s position and soil particle size also play crucial roles, influencing where oil accumulates within soil layers. Rainfall timing and intensity further modify oil movement, with prior rainfall reducing infiltration, while subsequent rain can increase it. The findings can help better understand the transport of spilled oil transport and implement emergency response measures for inland oil spills.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the Multi-Partner Research Initiative of Natural Resources Canada, NWT Environmental Studies Research Fund, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. The authors are also grateful to the editor and the anonymous reviewers for their insightful comments and suggestions.
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Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 150 • Issue 8 • August 2024
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© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Jan 2, 2024
Accepted: Mar 14, 2024
Published online: Jun 11, 2024
Published in print: Aug 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Nov 11, 2024
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