Evaluation of Electrical Resistivity in a Tropical Sandy Soil Compacted

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Use of electrical resistivity to identify collapsible soils in Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Specific depth cone resistivity measurements to determine soil engineering properties

The University of British Columbia (UBC) began performing piezocone penetration tests (CPTU) with electrical resistivity measurements (RCPTU) in 1989. Since then, RCPTU research at UBC has focused on obtaining geo-environmental parameters such as fluid resistivity and soil engineering properties such as porosity and degree of saturation from measurements of bulk soil electrical resistivity using the empirical relationship proposed by Archie (1942). Within this framework, the paper illustrates and discusses important design and calibration issues for resistivity modules such as the use of isolated circuitry to achieve linear calibrations over large ranges of resistivity. The suitability of RCPTU measurements for determination of geo-environmental and geotechnical parameters are assessed using typical ranges of soil and groundwater properties and methods of isolating individual factors for study are discussed. Illustrative examples of RCPTU research efforts including the environmental characterization of mine tailings, delineation of saline water intrusions in fresh water aquifers and the quality control of geotechnical ground densification are presented throughout the text. It is shown that groundwater temperature and hence ion mobility is not significantly altered by frictional heat generated during piezocone penetration and that ratio-based approaches to monitoring soil porosity can be used to eliminate the requirement for extensive groundwater sampling programs. Lastly, it is shown that RCPTU measurements above the water table can only be made using resistivity modules that are stable over a large range of resistivities and that such measurements are the most difficult to interpret because of grain surface conduction effects and generally unknown fluid resistivities.

Comparative analysis between biogas flow in landfill and electrical resistivity tomography in Rio Claro city, Brazil

The biogas originated from anaerobic degradation of organic matter in landfills consists basically in CH4, CO2, and H2O. The landfills represent an important depository of organic matter with high energetic potential in Brazil, although with inexpressive use in the present. The estimation of production of the productive rate of biogas represents one of the major difficulties of technical order to the planning of capture system for rational consumption of this resource. The applied geophysics consists in a set of methods and techniques with wide use in environmental and hydrogeological studies. The DC resistivity method is largely applied in environmental diagnosis of the contamination in soil and groundwater, due to the contrast of electrical properties frequent between contaminated areas and the natural environment. This paper aims to evaluate eventual relationships between biogas flows quantified in drains located in the landfill, with characteristic patterns of electrical resistivity in depth. The drain of higher flow (117 m3 /h) in depth was characterized for values between 8000 Ω⋅m and 100.000 Ω⋅m, in contrast with values below 2000 Ω⋅m, which characterize in subsurface the drain with less flow (37 m3 /h), besides intermediary flow and electrical resistivity values, attributed to the predominance of areas with accumulation or generation of biogas.

SnO 2 ceramics with low electrical resistivity obtained by microwave sintering

The main aim of this study was to develop dense and conducting SnO 2 ceramics without precipitated phases on the grain boundaries, which was verified using field emission scanning microscopy (FE-SEM) coupled with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (FE-SEM/EDS). Two sample groups were investigated, where the first sample group was doped with zinc while the second one was doped with cobalt. The ceramics were prepared using the oxides mixture method and the sintering was carried out in a conventional muffle oven as well as in microwave oven. The results obtained were found to be similar regarding the relative density for the two sintering methods while time and temperature gains were observed for the microwave sintering method. The relative densities obtained were nearly 95%, for the two sintering methods. Concerning the electrical characterization measurements-electric field x current density as well as the environment temperature, the ceramics obtained through the conventional sintering method presented non-ohmic behavior. For the microwave sintered ceramics, we observed an ohmic behavior with electrical resistivity of 1.3 Ωcm for the samples doped with ZnO/Nb 2O 5 and 2.5 Ωcm for that of the samples doped with CoO/Nb 2O 5. The FE-SEM/EDS results for the microwave sintered ceramics indicated a structure with a reduced number of pores and other phases segregated at the grain boundaries, which leads to a better conductive ceramic than the conventional oven sintered samples. The dilatometry analysis determined the muffle sintering temperature and the difference between the densification of cobalt and zinc oxides. The addition of niobium oxide resulted in the decrease in resistivity, which thus led us to conclude that it is possible to obtain dense ceramics with low electrical resistivity based on SnO 2 using commercial oxides by the oxides mixture technique and the microwave oven sintering method. Copyright © 2011 American Scientific Publishers All rights reserved.

Deposition and photo-induced electrical resistivity of dip-coated NiO thin films from a precipitation process

Thin films of the semiconductor NiO are deposited using a straightforward combination of simple and versatile techniques: the co-precipitation in aqueous media along with the dip- coating process. The obtained material is characterized by gravimetric/differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) and X-ray diffraction technique. TG curve shows 30 % of total mass loss, whereas DTA indicates the formation of the NiO phase about 578 K (305 C). X-ray diffraction (XRD) data confirms the FCC crystalline phase of NiO, whose crystallinity increases with thermal annealing temperature. UV-Vis optical absorption measurements are carried out for films deposited on quartz substrate in order to avoid the masking of bandgap evaluation by substrate spectra overlapping. The evaluated bandgap is about 3.0 eV. Current-voltage (I-V) curves measured for different temperatures as well as the temperature-dependent resistivity data show typical semiconductor behavior with the resistivity increasing with the decreasing of temperature. The Arrhenius plot reveals a level 233 meV above the conduction band top, which was attributed to Ni2+ vacancy level, responsible for the p-type electrical nature of NiO, even in undoped samples. Light irradiation on the films leads to a remarkable behavior, because above bandgap light induced a resistivity increase, despite the electron-hole generation. This performance was associated with excitation of the Ni 2+ vacancy level, due to the proximity between energy levels. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Interpretation of Resistivity Piezocone Tests in a Contaminated Municipal Solid Waste Disposal Site

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Resistivity (DC) method applied to aouifer protection studies

Resistivity (DC) method using vertical electrical soundings (Schlumberger array) are conducted In the vicinity of Canoas/RS, applied to environmental studies with the objective of Investigating groundwater conditions, The present paper shows a geoelectrlcal Identification of the lithology and an estimate of the relationship between the resistivity and Dar Zarrouk parameters (transverse unit resistance and longitudinal unit conductance) with the properties such as aquifer transmlssivlty and protection of ground water resources, In the saturated sediments, resistivity values defined the following sequence: clay layers (resistivity < 40 ohm-m) and sand layers (resistivity > 40 ohm-m), Two sand layers were identified; one corresponding to the unconfined aquifer and another to the confined aquifer between two clay layers, In the map of the transverse unit resistance of the unconfined aquifer, the tendencies of high values can be associated with the zones of high transmissivity; hence, these zones are suggested for the installation of monitoring wells, The map of longitudinal conductance Illustrates the Impermeability of the confining clay layer, Values of S > 1.0 siemens would indicate zones in which the confined aquifer would be protected; In comparison, values of S < 1.0 siemens would indicate zones of probable risks of contamination. © 2006 Sociedade Brasileira de Geofísica.

Optical and electrical properties of polymerizing plasmas and their correlation with DLC film properties

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films were grown from radiofrequency plasmas of acetylene-argon mixtures, at different excitation powers, P. The effects of this parameter on the plasma potential, electron density, electron temperature, and plasma activity were investigated using a Langmuir probe. The mean electron temperature increased from about 0.5 to about 7.0 eV while the mean electron density decreased from about 1.2x10(9) to about 0.2x10(9) cm(-3) as P was increased from 25 to 150 W. Both the plasma potential and the plasma activity were found to increase with increasing P. Through actinometric optical emission spectrometry, the relative concentrations of CH, [CH], and H, [H], in the discharge were mapped as a function of the applied power. A rise in [H] and a fall in [CH] with increasing P were observed and are discussed in relation to the plasma characteristics and the subimplantation model. The optical properties of the films were calculated from ultraviolet-visible spectroscopic data; the surface resistivity was measured by the two-point probe method. The optical gap, E(G), and the surface resistivity, rho(s), fall with increasing P. E(G) and rho(s) are in the ranges of about 2.0-1.3 eV and 10(14)-10(16) Omega/square, respectively. The plasma power also influences the film self-bias, V(b), via a linear dependence, and the effect of V(b) on ion bombardment during growth is addressed together with variation in the relative densities of sp(2) and sp(3) bonds in the films as determined by Raman spectroscopy.

Estudo geofísico de vazamento controlado de álcool combustível em escala laboratorial

O etanol é utilizado de forma extensiva como combustível para veículos automotores no Brasil, devido tanto a características como ao clima favorável ao cultivo de cana-de-açúcar em uma cadeia produtiva bastante desenvolvida quanto à eficiência energética e ao teor quase inexistente de poluentes emitidos emsua combustão. A ampla rede de distribuição para atendimento ao consumidor final representa um risco constante de vazamentos e contaminação de rios, solo e água subterrânea. Este trabalho discute os resultados do monitoramento geofísico num experimento em escala de laboratório, resultante do vazamento controlado de etanol em sedimentos parcialmente saturados em água. A extensa aplicação de métodos elétricos em estudos ambientais e alterações significativas em termos de resistividade elétrica, provocada no ambiente geológico pela presença de compostos exógenos, justifica a seleção do método. Houve um aumento dos valores no início do experimento até o máximo em torno de 52h, seguido por queda acentuada até 342h e sucedido por crescimento lento e constante dos valores até 2.742h, quando comparados a valores prévios sem adição de etanol. Os dados sugerem uma relação temporal entre variações de resistividade elétrica e o comportamento geoquímico do etanolno ambiente geológico.

Degradação de resíduos e alterações na resistividade elétrica, pH e Eh

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Decomposição de resíduos sólidos domiciliares e variações na resistividade e cargabilidade

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)