ASTM D5886-95
(Guide)Standard Guide for Selection of Test Methods to Determine Rate of Fluid Permeation Through Geomembranes for Specific Applications
Standard Guide for Selection of Test Methods to Determine Rate of Fluid Permeation Through Geomembranes for Specific Applications
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers selecting one or more appropriate test methods to assess the permeability of all candidate geomembranes for a proposed specific application to various permeants. The widely different uses of geomembranes as barriers to the transport and migration of different gases, vapors, and liquids under different service conditions require determinations of permeability by test methods that relate to and simulate the service. Geomembranes are nonporous homogeneous materials that are permeable in varying degrees to gases, vapors, and liquids on a molecular scale in a three-step process (1 ) by dissolution in or absorption by the geomembrane on the upstream side, (2 ) diffusion through the geomembrane, and (3 ) desorption on the downstream side of the barrier.
1.2 The rate of transmission of a given chemical species, whether as a single permeant or in mixtures, is driven by its chemical potential or in practical terms by its concentration gradient across the geomembrane. Various methods to assess the permeability of geomembranes to single component permeants, such as individual gases, vapors, and liquids are referenced and briefly described.
1.3 Various test methods for the measurement of permeation and transmission through geomembranes of individual species in complex mixtures such as waste liquids are discussed.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation: D 5886 – 95
Standard Guide for
Selection of Test Methods to Determine Rate of Fluid
Permeation Through Geomembranes for Specific
Applications
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5886; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope D 815 Method for Testing Coated Fabrics—Hydrogen Per-
meability
1.1 This guide covers selecting one or more appropriate test
D 1434 Test Method for Determining Gas Permeability
methods to assess the permeability of all candidate geomem-
Characteristics of Plastic Film and Sheeting to Gases
branes for a proposed specific application to various per-
D 1653 Test Methods for Water Vapor Permeability of
meants. The widely different uses of geomembranes as barriers
Organic Coating Films
to the transport and migration of different gases, vapors, and
D 4439 Terminology for Geosynthetics
liquids under different service conditions require determina-
D 4491 Test Methods for Water Permeability of Geotextiles
tions of permeability by test methods that relate to and simulate
by Permittivity
the service. Geomembranes are nonporous homogeneous ma-
E 96 Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Mate-
terials that are permeable in varying degrees to gases, vapors,
rials
and liquids on a molecular scale in a three-step process (1)by
F 372 Test Method for Water Vapor Transmission Rate of
dissolution in or absorption by the geomembrane on the
Flexible Barrier Materials Using an Infrared Detection
upstream side, (2) diffusion through the geomembrane, and (3)
Technique
desorption on the downstream side of the barrier.
F 739 Test Method for Resistance of Protective Clothing
1.2 The rate of transmission of a given chemical species,
Materials to Permeation by Liquids or Gases Under Con-
whether as a single permeant or in mixtures, is driven by its
ditions of Continuous Contact
chemical potential or in practical terms by its concentration
gradient across the geomembrane. Various methods to assess
3. Terminology
the permeability of geomembranes to single component per-
3.1 Definitions:
meants, such as individual gases, vapors, and liquids are
3.1.1 downstream, n—the space adjacent to the geomem-
referenced and briefly described.
brane through which the permeant is flowing.
1.3 Various test methods for the measurement of permeation
3.1.2 geomembrane, n—an essentially impermeable geo-
and transmission through geomembranes of individual species
synthetic composed of one or more synthetic sheets. (See
in complex mixtures such as waste liquids are discussed.
Terminology D 4439.)
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1.2.1 Discussion—In geotechnical engineering, essen-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
tially impermeable means that no measurable liquid flows
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
through a geosynthetic when tested in accordance with Termi-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
nology D 4491.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.1.3 geosynthetic, n—a planar product manufactured from
2. Referenced Documents polymeric material used with soil, rock, earth, or other geo-
technical engineering-related material as an integral part of a
2.1 ASTM Standards:
man-made project, structure, or system. (See Terminology
D 471 Test Method for Rubber Property—Effect of Liq-
2 D 4439.)
uids
3.1.4 permeability, n—the rate of flow under a differential
D 814 Test Method for Rubber Property—Vapor Transmis-
2 pressure, temperature, or concentration of a gas, liquid, or
sion of Volatile Liquids
Discontinued; see 1988 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 09.02.
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-35 on Geosynthet-
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.09.
icsand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D35.10 on Geomembranes.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.01.
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 1995. Published February 1996.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.09.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 09.01.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.06.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.03.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D 5886
vapor through a material. (Modified from Terminology inorganic aqueous salt solution, the geomembranes are semi-
D 4491.) permeable, that is, the water can be transmitted through the
3.1.5 permeant, n—a chemical species, gas, liquid, or vapor geomembranes, but the ions are not transmitted. Thus, the
that can pass through a substance. water that is transmitted through a hole-free geomembrane
does not carry dissolved inorganics. The direction of perme-
4. Summary of Guide
ation of a component in the mixture is determined thermody-
namically by its chemical potential difference or concentration
4.1 The wide range of uses of geomembranes as barriers in
gradient across the geomembrane. Thus the water in the
many different environments to many different permeating
wastewater on the upstream side is at a lower potential than the
species requires different test procedures to assess the effec-
less contaminated water on the downstream side and can
tiveness of a given membrane for a given application. The
permeate the geomembrane into the wastewater by osmosis.
permeating species range from a single component to highly
4.1.2 Although inorganic salts do not permeate geomem-
complex mixtures such as those found in waste liquids and
branes, some organic species do. The rate of permeation
leachates. In specialized applications, service it may be impor-
through a geomembrane depends on the solubility of the
tant to measure transmission or migration of a species that
organic in the geomembrane and the diffusibility of the organic
would take place under specific conditions and environments
in the geomembrane as driven by the chemical potential
including temperature, vapor pressure, and concentration gra-
gradient. Principle factors that can affect the diffusion of an
dients. Tests that would be applicable to the measurement of
organic within a geomembrane include:
the permeability of a material to different permeants present in
4.1.2.1 The solubility of the permeant in the geomembrane,
various applications are summarized in Table 1.
4.1.2.2 The microstructure of the polymer, for example,
4.1.1 In the use of geomembranes in service as barriers to
percent crystallinity,
the transmission of fluids, it is essential to recognize the
4.1.2.3 Whether the condition at which diffusion is taking
difference between geomembranes that are nonporous homo-
place is above or below the glass transition temperature of the
geneous materials and other liner materials that are porous,
polymer,
such as soils and concretes. The transmission of permeating
4.1.2.4 The other constituents in the geomembrane com-
species through geomembranes without holes proceeds by
pound,
absorption of the species in the geomembrane and diffusion
4.1.2.5 Variation in manufacturing processes,
through the geomembrane on a molecular basis. The driving
force is chemical potential across the geomembrane. A liquid 4.1.2.6 The flexibility of the polymer chains,
permeates porous materials in a condensed state that can carry 4.1.2.7 The size and shape of the diffusing molecules,
the dissolved constituents, and the driving force for such 4.1.2.8 The temperature at which diffusion is taking place,
permeation is hydraulic pressure. Due to the selective nature of and
geomembranes, the permeation of the dissolved constituents in 4.1.2.9 The geomembrane.
liquids can vary greatly, that is, components of a mixture can 4.1.3 The movement through a hole-free geomembrane of
permeate at different rates due to differences in solubility and mobile species that would be encountered in service would be
diffusibility in a given geomembrane. With respect to the affected by many factors, such as:
TABLE 1 Applicable Test Method for Measuring Permeability of Geomembranes to Various Permeants
Applicable Test Method and Permeant
Fluid Being Contained Example of Permeant Example of Field Application
Detector and Quantifier
Single-Component Fluids:
Gas H ,O Barriers, pipe, and hose liners D 815
2 2
N ,CH D 1434-V
2 4
CO D 1434-P
Water vapor H O Moisture vapor barriers, water reservoir E 96, D653
covers
Liquid water H O Liners for reservoirs, dams, and canals Soil-type permeameter with hydraulic
pressure
Organic vapor Organic species Secondary containment for organic D 814, E96, F372
solvent and gasoline
Organic liquid Organic solvents species Containers, tank liners secondary D 814, E96
containment
Multicomponents Fluids:
Gases CO /CH Barriers, separation of gases F 372, GC, GCMS
2 4
Aqueous solutions of inorganic, for Ions, salts Pond liners Pouch, osmotic cell, ion analysis
example, brines, incinerator ash
leachates, leach pad leachate
Mixtures of organics, spills, Organic species Liners for tanks and secondary E 96 with headspace, GC
hydrocarbon fuels containment
Aqueous solutions of organics Organic species, H O Liners for ponds and waste disposal Pouch, Multi-compartment cell with
analysis by GC on GCMS
Complex aqueous solutions of organics H O, organic species, dissolved salts Liners for waste disposal Pouch, Multi-compartment cell, osmotic
and inorganic species cell, analysis by head-space GC
D 5886
4.1.3.1 The composition of the geomembrane with respect 6. Basis of Classification
to the polymer and to the compound,
6.1 Even though geomembranes are nonporous and cannot
4.1.3.2 The thickness of the geomembrane,
be permeated by liquids as such, gases and vapors of liquids
4.1.3.3 The service temperature,
can permeate a geomembrane on a molecular level. Thus, even
4.1.3.4 The temperature gradient across the geomembrane
if a geomembrane is free of macroscopic holes, some compo-
in service,
nents of the contained fluid can permeate and might escape the
4.1.3.5 The chemical potential across the geomembrane, containment unit.
that includes pressure and concentration gradient,
6.2 The basic mechanism of permeation through geomem-
4.1.3.6 The composition of the fluid and the mobile con- branes is essentially the same for all permeating species. The
stituents,
mechanism differs from that through porous media, such as
soils and concrete, which contain voids that are connected in
4.1.3.7 The solubility of various components of an organic
liquid in the particular geomembrane that increase concentra- such a way that a fluid introduced on one side will flow from
void to void and emerge on the other side; thus, a liquid can
tion of individual components on the upstream side of the
geomembrane and can cause swelling of the geomembrane flow through the voids and carry dissolved species.
resulting in increased permeability,
6.3 Overall rate of flow through saturated porous media
4.1.3.8 The ion concentration of the liquid, and follows Darcy’s equation that states that the flow rate is
proportional to the hydraulic gradient, as is shown in the
4.1.3.9 Ability of the species to move away from the surface
following equation:
on the downstream side.
4.1.4 Because of the great number of variables, it is impor-
Q 5 kiA (1)
tant to perform permeability tests of a geomembrane under
where:
conditions that simulate as closely as possible the actual
Q 5 rate of flow,
environmental conditions in which the geomembrane will be in
k 5 constant (Darcy’s coefficient of permeability),
service.
A 5 total inside cross-sectional area of the sample con-
tainer, and
5. Significance and Uses
i 5 hydraulic gradient.
5.1 The principal characteristic of geomembranes is their
6.4 With most liquids in saturated media, the flow follows
intrinsically low permeability to a broad range of gases, vapors,
Darcy’s equation; however, the flow can deviate due to
and liquids, both as single-component fluids and as complex
interactions between the liquid and the surface of the soil
mixtures of many constituents. As low permeable materials,
particles. These interactions become important in the escape of
geomembranes are being used in a wide range of engineering
dissolved species through a low-permeability porous liner
applications in geotechnical, environmental, and transportation
system in a waste facility. Dissolved chemical species, either
areas as barriers to control the migration of mobile fluids and
organic or inorganic, not only can permeate such a medium
their constituents. The range of potential permeants is broad
advectively (that is, the liquid acts as the carrier of the
and the service conditions can differ greatly. This guide shows
chemical species), but also by diffusion in accordance with
users test methods available for determining the permeability
Fick’s two laws of diffusion.
of geomembranes to various permeants.
6.5 Even though polymeric geomembranes are manufac-
5.2 The transmission of various species through a geomem-
tured as solid homogeneous nonporous materials, they contain
brane is subject to many factors that must be assessed in order
interstitial spaces between the polymer molecules through
to be able to predict its effectiveness for a specific service.
which small molecules can diffuse. Thus, all polymeric
Permeability measurements are affected by test conditions, and
geomembranes are permeable to a degree. A permeant migrates
measurements made by one method cannot be translated from
through the geomembrane on a molecular basis by an activated
one application to another. A wide variety of permeability tests
diffusion process and not as a liquid. This transport process of
have been devised to measure the permeability of polymeric
chemical species involves three steps:
materials; however, only a limited number of these procedures
6.5.1 The solution or absorption of the permeant at the
have been applied to geomembranes. Test conditions and
upstream surface of the geomembrane,
procedures should be selected to reflect actual service require-
6.5.2 Diffusion of the dissolved species through the
ments as closely as possible. It should be noted that field
geomembrane, and
conditions may be difficult to model or maintain in the
6.5.3 Evaporation or desorption of the permeant at the
laboratory. This may impact apparent performance of geomem-
brane samples. downstream surface of the geomembrane.
5.3 This guide discusses the mechanism of permeation of 6.6 The driving force for this type of activated permeation
mobile chemical species through geomembra
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