An experimental study on ionic migration through saturated kaolin

This paper details technical aspects associated with electrical conductivity measurements within saturated clays and presents experimental work to show the direct application of electrical techniques to track ionic movement through clay under chemically induced flow. The study confined itself to kaolin using both naturally sedimented samples and consolidated samples. Regarding the latter, a Rowe cell was adapted to allow electrical measurements to be taken both normal and parallel to the direction of loading. Bulk conductivity measurements and measurements on the conductivity of the interstitial pore fluid were used to quantify the pore tortuosity and effective diffusion coefficient of saturated clay. In addition, predicted concentration time curves agreed well with those estimated from conductivity measurements.