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Two-dimensional finite elements model for selenium transport in saturated and unsaturated zones

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Abstract

A two-dimensional finite element model was developed to simulate species of selenium transport in two dimensions in both saturated and unsaturated soil zones. The model considers water, selenate, selenite, and selenomethionine uptake by plants. It also considers adsorption and desorption, oxidation and reduction, volatilization, and chemical and biological transformations of selenate, selenite, and selenomethionine. In addition to simulating water flow, selenate, selenite, and selenomethionine transport, the model also simulates organic and gaseous selenium transport. The developed model was applied to simulate two different observed field data. The simulation of the observed data was satisfactory, with mean absolute error of 48.5 μg/l and mean relative error of 8.9%.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Eng., İzmir Institute of Technology, Urla, İzmir, Turkey

    Gokmen Tayfur & Alper Baba

  2. Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California, Davis, CA, USA

    Kenneth K. Tanji

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  1. Gokmen Tayfur
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  2. Kenneth K. Tanji
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  3. Alper Baba
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Correspondence to Alper Baba.

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Tayfur, G., Tanji, K.K. & Baba, A. Two-dimensional finite elements model for selenium transport in saturated and unsaturated zones. Environ Monit Assess 169, 509–518 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-1193-1

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