Chloride transport and its sensitivities to different boundary conditions in reclaimed soil solutions filled with fly ash

Abstract

Chloride ion transport in reclaimed soil solutions filled with fly ash (FA) was investigated by measuring the hydraulic parameters (i.e. water retention curves and hydraulic conductivity) of three substrates, namely GSL, GFA, and CFA. Similar simulations were carried out under certain weather conditions. The different boundary conditions of chloride transport were also discussed from FA texture, cover soil thickness, groundwater table level, and initial chloride concentration. Furthermore, the sensitivities of chloride ions to these effect factors were analyzed. The results show that the different top soil thickness and initial chloride concentration have no effect on salinity of topsoil solution in the monitoring points, but they can clearly change the chloride concentration of FA layers. The sensibilities from top soil thickness and initial chloride content are exceedingly weak to the salinity balance based on two dimensions of the time and concentration. While the different FA texture and groundwater table not only affect the salinity equilibrium process of the whole reclaimed soil profile, but also change its balance state. Generally, coarse FA particles and high groundwater table can defer the salinity balance process of the reclaimed soil solution, and they also increase the chloride concentration of FA layer solutions, and even topsoil ones.