Evaluacion de parametros para estudio de la movilidad de contaminantes en medio poroso.

The leaks of compounds less dense than the water, or LNaPLs, (Ligth Non-aqueous Phase Liquids), could contaminate the aquifers located in the nearby areas, causing the deterioration of the environment and putting at risk the health of human beings as well as the living organism of the ecosystem. Some examples of LNaPLs would be hydrocarbons, which in case of a leakage from their respective containment tanks, could cause the contamination of the aquifers (Catalan y Dullien, 1995). Once these compounds breach into the soil, the LNaPs begin to move given the action of gravity, passing through the soils partially saturated areas and dispersing sideways due to the capillary forces presented in such regions. Since the LNaPLs are less heavy than water, the buoyant force prevents them from continuing their movement below the ground water level. However, for small leakages they will instead move sideways creating a capillary layer (abdul, 1998). On the other hand, big outflows could produce enough energy for the LNaPLs to move below the ground water level, leaving them trapped on those regions (Lyman et al. 1990). Furthermore, the DNaPLs due to their higher density, move towards the ground water level at the same speed these waters move. In both cases, these compounds might harm the environment, meaning that it is necessary for them to be removed from the porous regions before they reach the surface waters. This study makes possible the sharing of information related to the transport of different contaminants over the soil, beginning with oil as LNaPLs main target in a sandy medium, stablishing the conditions required to treat the transport problem of DNaPLs in further studies. Fort the development of this work, several experiments were established in 3 short columns, an aquifer and a vacuum chamber. With the 3 tests the multiphase flow will be studied. In the short columns, the tortuosity, the hydraulic conductivity, the retention capacity, the intrinsic permeability of the medium in a matrix of sandy soil will be measured, as well as certain procedures for the development of the characteristic curve of any other type of floor used. In the aquifer, it will be measured the hydraulic conductivity for modelling in confined and unconfined dispersity of the porous medium and aquifer systems. The vacuum chamber will be used to generate the necessary vacuum of an unsaturated environment.