ABSTRACT
To compare the graphic adjustment and the non-linear regression methods to obtain points of the breakthrough curve, a solution was passed through three soil columns to displace calcium chloride and provide the elution curve points. To compare the adjusted elution curves with the experimental curve, the differential equations for longitudinal dispersion, dispersion for one pulse, difusiveconvective, and general solute transport analytical solutions were used. The obtained dispersion coefficient values showed that the graphic adjustment, when adaquately applied, is an useful alternative under limited computing resources for adjustment through non-linear regression. The analytical solutions perfectly describe the breakthrongh curve, provided the dispersion coefficient is known.
Key words:
solute transport; dispersion coefficient; breakthrough curve