• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.86-93
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• 2007

In recent tests using tracer have been frequently conducted by fluorescent tracers. In this study, granular activated charcoal (GAC) as a detector for the fluorescent tracers (rhodamine WT and uranine) was investigated through laboratory and field tests. In the laboratory tests, tracer concentrations of rhodamine WT and uranine determined by the GAC were slightly different from those of standard solutions but they were excellent in linearity. Results show that GAC is excellent as tracer detector when concentration of the fluorescent tracers is greater than 10 & micro; g/L whileas no obvious differences in mixed solutions of the two tracers due to interferences. Compared to conventional methods of water sampling, field results shows a high potential of GAC as a tracer in the field. Our results also show that wet analysis is better for the lower concentrations of tracers whileas dry analysis is good for high concentrations of tracers. This study demonstrates that fluorescent tracer detection using the GAC is very useful and economical for a hydraulic connection between target areas and very longer period of the tracer test.