title: Numerical evaluation of lateral diffusion inside diffusive gradients in thin films samplers.
abstract: Using numerical simulation of diffusion inside diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) samplers, we show that the effect of lateral diffusion inside the sampler on the solute flux into the sampler is a nonlinear function of the diffusion layer thickness and the physical sampling window size. In contrast, earlier work concluded that this effect was constant irrespective of parameters of the sampler geometry. The flux increase caused by lateral diffusion inside the sampler was determined to be ∼8.8% for standard samplers, which is considerably lower than the previous estimate of ∼20%. Lateral diffusion is also propagated to the diffusive boundary layer (DBL), where it leads to a slightly stronger decrease in the mass uptake than suggested by the common 1D diffusion model that is applied for evaluating DGT results. We introduce a simple correction procedure for lateral diffusion and demonstrate how the effect of lateral diffusion on diffusion in the DBL can be accounted for. These corrections often result in better estimates of the DBL thickness (δ) and the DGT-measured concentration than earlier approaches and will contribute to more accurate concentration measurements in solute monitoring in waters.
authors: †University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, Institute of Soil Research, Konrad-Lorenz-Strasse 24, 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
authors: Jakob
authors: J
authors: Santner
authors: †University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, Institute of Soil Research, Konrad-Lorenz-Strasse 24, 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria.|‡Land Salzburg, Abteilung 5-Natur-und Umweltschutz, Gewerbe, Michael-Pacher-Straße 36, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Kreuzeder
authors: §Forschungszentrum Jülich IBG-3, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52425 Jülich, Germany.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Schnepf
authors: †University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, Institute of Soil Research, Konrad-Lorenz-Strasse 24, 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
authors: Walter W
authors: WW
authors: Wenzel
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D004058:Diffusion; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D012996:Solutions; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014867:Water