Time-Lapse 3D Imaging by Positron Emission Tomography of Copper Mobilized in Soil by the Herbicide MCPA


Time-Lapse 3D Imaging by Positron Emission Tomography of Copper Mobilized in Soil by the Herbicide MCPA

Kersten, M.; Kulenkampff, J.

The MCPA herbicide mobilizes trace metals in soil by outcompeting adsorption by soil minerals[1]. Trace metal tracers are too immobile for the relatively short observation times available with positron emission tomography (PET). For the first time, however, timelapse movies of Cu migration in columns filled with artificial soil (68 % sand, 26 % silt, 5 % illite clay, 1 % goethite) were recorded. Soil solution was supplied from bottom up at a flow rate of 100 µL/min, low enough to allow for equilibration while maintaining a residence time in the order of tracer half-life (12.7 h). Up to 5 mL or 250 MBq of Cu-64 tracer was applied in one pulse run. The figure show volume renderings at different times (voxel size = 1 mm³, column high = 10 cm). The radiolabeled Cu-MCPA complex breakthrough occurred just about 10-fold slower than the inert solute tracer [F-18]KF used in control columns shown in the lower row of the figure. Imaging movies are accessible at [2].
1. Kulenkampff J. et al. (2018). Sci. Rep., 8(7091). Open access CC BY 4.0.
2. URL https://zenodo.org/record/852968

Keywords: Positron Emission Tomography; soil column; reactive flow; MCPA

  • Contribution to proceedings
    Interpore 2022, 14. Anular Meeting, Minisymposium 18: Innovative Methods for Characterization, Monitoring, and In-Situ Remediation of Contaminated Soils and Aquifers, 30.05.-02.06.2022, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
    Album of Porous Media, Cham: Springer, 978-3-031-23799-7, 106
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-23800-0_86

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Publ.-Id: 36840