scholarly journals Particle Size Distribution of Natural Clayey Soils: A Discussion on the Use of Laser Diffraction Analysis (LDA)

Geosciences ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 55
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Gorączko ◽  
Szymon Topoliński

Particle size distribution is one of the most significant factors determining physical soil properties. Laser diffraction analysis (LDA) is an alternative method to the traditional hydrometric methods (HM) used to determine particle size distribution in soils. However, significant differences in fraction content are found in relation to the applied methods of a particle size test. Above all, measurements performed by LDA for clayey soils usually produce different results to those based on Stokes’ equation. Methodical problems, such as an appropriate method of dispersing the sample and the selection of LDA calculation theory, also play a significant role in fine soils. This paper contains the results of analyses of Neogene clays from Poland, which are characterized by differentiation with regard to the content of clay fraction particles. In this article, the validity of using laser diffraction analysis (LDA) for the identification and characterization of clayey sediments with common genesis is assessed. The possibility of finding reliable pedotransfer functions to the convert LDA results to a hydrometric analysis is discussed.

KIMIKA ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 30-35
Author(s):  
Erick Christofer I. Gonzales ◽  
Karl Gabriel M. Lloren ◽  
Jihan S. Al-shdifat ◽  
Lica B. Valdez ◽  
Krizzia Rae Gines ◽  
...  

Studies regarding particle size distribution, particularly in espressos are surprisingly few. Particle size distribution (PSD) is a plot that displays the average diameter versus percentage volume of the particles present in a sample. With increased awareness amongst coffee drinkers, a study aiming to report the effects of different pressure on particle size distribution of espresso from four different coffee blends was conducted. The method involved pulling of espresso shots at 7, 9, and 11 bar (or atm) from different coffee blends labeled as MA, CO, AL, and MO. Laser diffraction analysis showed different particle size groupings for each set of extraction pressure. Fine particles are within 1.20 to 28.70 µm. The most abundant particle size is centered at 185.4 µm. The particle size distribution of coffee blends composed of 100% Arabica coffee (AL and MO) but sourced from different locations, showed four similar modes or size ranges centered at 3.523, 13.005, 28.70, and 185.4 µm regardless of the extraction pressure or the coffee source. On the other hand, the coffee blends composed of different ratios of Arabica and Robusta (MA and CO) showed different modes depending on the pressure. This indicates the potential of PSD for characterizing the purity of a coffee blend. The particle size distribution can also give insights as to the sensory attributes of the espresso coffee.


Soil Science ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 178 (4) ◽  
pp. 194-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei-Peng Wang ◽  
Jian-Li Liu ◽  
Jia-Bao Zhang ◽  
Xiao-Peng Li ◽  
Ya-Nan Cheng ◽  
...  

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.


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