scholarly journals Comparison of pipette method and state of the art analytical techniques to determine granulometric properties of sediments and soils

2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-39
Author(s):  
Fruzsina Gresina

The determination of particle size distribution is a crucial issue in various fields of earth sciences (e.g., Quaternary research, sedimentology, stratigraphy, structural geology, volcanology), environmental sciences as well as diverse industrial applications (e.g., pharmaceuticals, cement industry). New measurement techniques developed as a result of industrial demands have also gained ground in environmental and Earth sciences research. The new techniques (especially laser diffraction) have enabled the particle characterisation in the broader size-range with a more detailed resolution. Still, they have to be compared with data obtained by classical methods. In light of the above, the primary aim of our research is to examine the methods of particle size determination critically. Excessive oversimplifications of particle size analyses routinely have used in paleo-environmental and paleo-climatological reconstructions, and other sedimentary studies, as well as insufficient knowledge of the background of the applied methods, distort the interpretation of the results. Over the past four decades, laser diffraction particle size analysers have proven to be practical tools of particle size characterisation. However, the shape of the natural sediment and soil particles are irregular and, therefore, affects the particle size distribution results obtained by different methods. The results of the traditional pipette method differed from laser diffraction results. The presence or absence of the pretreatments did control the differences between the two techniques. The results of Fraunhofer optical method were significantly different from Mie theory because it can detect much lower volume percentages of finer particles. Grain size results of coarse-grained samples measured by different laser diffraction devices were more comparable than the results of more clayey samples. The ratios of different sizes were changed due to the hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide pretreatments. The comparison of different techniques is necessary to revaluate standards in grain size measurements which can enable the shift from conventional methods to more productive and reproducible methods. Still, light scattering techniques have not yet been able to displace classical methods in Earth sciences completely, in contrast to industrial applications.

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-55
Author(s):  
Kateřina Sedláčková ◽  
Lenka Ševelová

Abstract The article aims to present a comparative study of two methods used to determine the particle size distribution of fine and medium coarse soils. These methods are used to determine the grain size distribution curve in practice; however, for different purposes. The classical sedimentation method, based on the Stoke’s sedimentation law (hydrometer, areometric, the Casagrande’s method), standardized for a geotechnical classification of soils was compared with the laser diffraction method on the Mastersizer 3,000 analyser used for soil science purposes. The first comparison on nine samples showed significant differences, especially for larger fractions above 0.01 mm. All measured values of falls from laser diffraction analysis (LDA) showed higher values of all analysed fractions. It was also interesting to follow the trend between the tests for the preparation of conversion factors. The analysis also outlined the direction for further comparison. For the geotechnical use of the LDA, it will be necessary to take into account the sample preparation and processing before analysis.


Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 465
Author(s):  
Cezary Polakowski ◽  
Magdalena Ryżak ◽  
Agata Sochan ◽  
Michał Beczek ◽  
Rafał Mazur ◽  
...  

Particle size distribution is an important soil parameter—therefore precise measurement of this characteristic is essential. The application of the widely used laser diffraction method for soil analysis continues to be a subject of debate. The precision of this method, proven on homogeneous samples, has been implicitly extended to soil analyses, but this has not been sufficiently well confirmed in the literature thus far. The aim of this study is to supplement the information available on the precision of the method in terms of reproducibility of soil measurement and whether the reproducibility of soil measurement is characterized by a normal distribution. To estimate the reproducibility of the laser diffraction method, thirteen various soil samples were characterized, and results were analysed statistically. The coefficient of variation acquired was lowest (3.44%) for silt and highest for sand (23.28%). Five of the thirteen tested samples were characterized by a normal distribution. The fraction content of eight samples was not characterized by normal distribution, but the extent of this phenomenon varied between soils. Although the laser diffraction method is repeatable, the measurement of soil particle size distribution can have limited reproducibility. The main cause seems to be small amounts of sand particles. The error can be amplified by the construction of the dispersion unit. Non-parametric statistical tests should be used by default for soil laser diffraction method analysis.


Author(s):  
S. Cazares ◽  
J. A. Barrios ◽  
C. Maya ◽  
G. Velásquez ◽  
M. Pérez ◽  
...  

Abstract An important physical property in environmental samples is particle size distribution. Several processes exist to measure particle diameter, including change in electrical resistance, blocking of light, the fractionation of field flow and laser diffraction (these being the most commonly used). However, their use requires expensive and complex equipment. Therefore, a Digital Microscopic Imaging Application (DMIA) method was developed adapting the algorithms used in the Helminth Egg Automatic Detector (HEAD) software coupled with a Neural Network (NN) and Bayesian algorithms. This allowed the determination of particle size distribution in samples of waste activated sludge (WAS), recirculated sludge (RCS), and pretreated sludge (PTS). The recirculation and electro-oxidation pre-treatment processes showed an effect in increasing the degree of solubilization (DS), decreasing particle size and breakage factor with ranges between 44.29%, and 31.89%. Together with a final NN calibration process, it was possible to compare results. For example, the 90th percentile of Equivalent Diameter (ED) value obtained by the DMIA with the corresponding result for the laser diffraction method. DMIA values: 228.76 μm (WAS), 111.18 μm (RCS), and 84.45 μm (PTS). DMIA processing has advantages in terms of reducing complexity, cost and time, and offers an alternative to the laser diffraction method.


2008 ◽  
Vol 53 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 34-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ryzak ◽  
A. Bieganowski ◽  
R.T. Walczak

Particle size distribution affects many physical soil properties and processes taking place in soil. There are many methods to determine the particle size distribution. The most frequently used are the sieve, sieve-pipette and sedimentation methods. Technological progress in electronics permitted a wide use of new methods of particle size distribution measurement in soil, e.g. the laser diffraction method. A comparison of particle size distribution obtained with the universally used areometer method (Cassagrande, modified by Prószynski) with results from the laser diffraction method for soil material received from grey-brown podzolic soil is presented in this work. The largest differences between the results were obtained for the smallest fraction determined with the areometer and laser diffraction methods. In a majority of other cases the slopes of interpolated straight lines were contained within the range of 0.81 ÷ 1.09.


Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1232
Author(s):  
Dušan Igaz ◽  
Elena Aydin ◽  
Miroslava Šinkovičová ◽  
Vladimír Šimanský ◽  
Andrej Tall ◽  
...  

The paper presents the comparison of soil particle size distribution determined by standard pipette method and laser diffraction. Based on the obtained results (542 soil samples from 271 sites located in the Nitra, Váh and Hron River basins), regression models were calculated to convert the results of the particle size distribution by laser diffraction to pipette method. Considering one of the most common soil texture classification systems used in Slovakia (according to Novák), the emphasis was placed on the determination accuracy of particle size fraction <0.01 mm. Analysette22 MicroTec plus and Mastersizer2000 devices were used for laser diffraction. Polynomial regression model resulted in the best approximation of measurements by laser diffraction to values obtained by pipette method. In the case of particle size fraction <0.01 mm, the differences between the measured values by pipette method and both laser analyzers ranged in average from 3% up to 9% and from 2% up to 11% in the case of Analysette22 and Mastersizer2000, respectively. After correction, the differences decreased to average 3.28% (Analysette22) and 2.24% (Mastersizer2000) in comparison with pipette method. After recalculation of the data, laser diffraction can be used alongside the sedimentation methods.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Attila Nemes ◽  
Anna Angyal ◽  
Andras Mako ◽  
Jan Erik Jacobsen ◽  
Eszter Herczeg

&lt;p&gt;The PARIO system is a novel technique for the measurement of soil particle-size distribution. It is a computerized sedimentation-based system that will yield a quasi-continuous particle-size distribution curve. Given that it is semi-automated, continuous and sedimentation-based, this system promises to become a good and compatible alternative to the traditional pipette or hydrometer techniques. Through hundreds of measurements we have acquired practical operational knowledge that this poster will share with potential future users. We will also present quantitative information on the technique&amp;#8217;s sensitivity to e.g. temperature shift or intermittent vibration during measurement. We also used a set of 45 soil samples of various texture from Norway to compare particle-size distribution measured by the PARIO system, the traditional pipette technique and laser diffractometry. We discuss measurement results as well as related sample-preparation aspects.&lt;/p&gt;


2014 ◽  
Vol 177 (5) ◽  
pp. 803-813 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Lamorski ◽  
Andrzej Bieganowski ◽  
Magdalena Ryżak ◽  
Agata Sochan ◽  
Cezary Sławiński ◽  
...  

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