Redistribution of soluble components during ice segregation in freezing ground

Abstract

The segregation of ice develops in freezing grounds by migration of a pore solution to the crystallization front. How do the soluble components behave during the ice segregation, especially mobile forms of contaminant heavy metals? The intent of this paper is to study redistribution of the mobile metals during formation of lens-type cryogenic structure freezing water-rich silt. The experimental data show that the concentration of pore solute increases during the segregation of ice including metal pollutants. The zones of high concentration are formed at the interface of segregation ice lens and mineral layers in freezing ground. The parameters of phase transition of water (start temperature of thawing and total heat of phase transition) in such zones are decreased with the increased concentration. Part of the liquid unfrozen water in the concentration zones of frozen silt consists of microscopic drops at the surface of ice crystals. Probably part of the dissolved mobile component is present in such liquid inclusions under subzero temperature. A fixation of metal pollutants takes place in the zones of concentration during ice segregation in freezing ground.