ISSN: 0149-6115
Page Count: 11

Particle-Size Analysis of Soils Using Laser Light Scattering and X-Ray Absorption Technology

Vitton, SJ
Assistant professor,Michigan Technological University,MI,

Sadler, LY
Associate professor,The University of Alabama,AL,

Abstract

The particle-size distribution for the fine-grained fraction of eleven soil samples was determined using four commercially available, state-of-the-art automated particle-size distribution analysis instruments. Two of the instruments operate on the principle of interaction of laser light with soil particles suspended in water in a highly agitated state, and two operate on the principle of the absorption of an X-ray beam by a suspension of soil particles settling in a quiescent column of water. The results from each instrument for each soil sample were compared to size analysis data determined by the hydrometer technique. The X-ray absorption instruments produced particle-size distributions very close to those of the hydrometer method, with the exception of soils with high mica concentrations. The laser-based instrument data did not agree as well with the hydrometer data, although for soils with significant mica contents the results were closer than the results from the X-ray absorption instruments. Based on these results, however, it appears that the automated X-ray absorption/sedimentation-based instruments show promise as alternatives or as a possible supplement for the manual hydrometer method of size analysis for soils without significant mica particle concentrations.

Keywords:
particle-size analysis, laser light scattering, X-ray absorption, sedimentation, hydrometer

Paper ID: GTJ11421J
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ11421J
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