Investigation of the vadose
or unsaturated zone is an essential part of many environmental monitoring
programs. The ability to detect groundwater pollutants as they travel towards
the water table is possible with the use of MONOFLEXTM Lysimeters.
Early detection, by removing samples of soil pore water, usually results in
less expensive remedial measures.
The MONOFLEXTM Lysimeter
is a soil pore water collection device, designed for permanent installation
beneath the ground surface. It is a closed tubular device with a porous filter
element either at one end (cup type) or mid way (tube type).The
MONOFLEXTM Lysimeter is provided with two ports, one to allow
application of a vacuum or pressure, the other to allow delivery of collected
water samples to the surface.
It operates by establishing continuity
between the soil pores and those in the porous element of the lysimeter.
Usually the lysimeter will be surrounded by a MONOFLEXTM Select
Silica Flour Pack to ensure intimate contact and effectively increase the
operating range. An equilibrium will be established between the water in the
soil pores, the silica pack and the porous lysimeter filter element.
Application of a vacuum to the inside of the MONOFLEXTM Lysimeter
will cause the pore water to flow from the soil pores through the silica flour
pack and porous filter element into the lysimeter body. The soil pore water may
then be transferred to the ground surface via the sample line.
