Evolution des structures de sols sous itinéraires techniques contrastés : relation entre courbes de rétention et analyse par microtomographie aux rayons X

Poster (2010, November)

Tillage reduction seems to affect porosity distribution, orientation and connectivity. Soil samples were removed from plots under conventional tillage or reduced tillage. Their water retention curves were ... [more ▼]

Tillage reduction seems to affect porosity distribution, orientation and connectivity. Soil samples were removed from plots under conventional tillage or reduced tillage. Their water retention curves were measured, and the characterization of soils porosity was made using x-ray microtomography measurements. Results show differences in the meso as well as in the macroporosity. [less ▲]

Impact of storage duration on the emissions of ammonia and VOC during the convective drying of urban residual sludges

in Tsotsas, E.; Metzger, T.; Peglow, M. (Eds.) Proceedings of IDS 2010 - Drying 2010 (2010, October)

On the modeling of convective drying tests on soil samples in non-isothermal conditions

in Tsotsas, E.; Metzger, T.; Peglow, M. (Eds.) Proceedings of IDS 2010 - Drying 2010 (2010, October)

Aspects pratico-techniques du séchage des boues d'épuration

Conference given outside the academic context (2010)

Impact of storage at 4°C on the study of sludge drying emissions

Conference (2010, September)

From nm to mm : Multiscale textural and structural characterization of particulate systems at the department of chemical engineering

Conference (2010, June 27)

Analyse par cycle de vie des systèmes énergétiques

Diverse speeche and writing (2010)

Comparison of agricultural soils' structure depending on tillage system using X-ray microtomography

in Geophysical Research Abstracts (2010, May), 12

This study aims at characterizing agricultural soils’ structure depending on the tillage system: conventional tillage or conservational tillage. Tillage reduction is an increasing practice, but the micro ... [more ▼]

This study aims at characterizing agricultural soils’ structure depending on the tillage system: conventional tillage or conservational tillage. Tillage reduction is an increasing practice, but the micro-structural effects on soils and on their hydrodynamic parameters are still not well described. Recent research shows non-converging results. Our point is to highlight fundamental differences in structure through characterization of soils porosity’s parameters using X-ray microtomography measurements coupled to image analysis. This attempt is in line with a more integrated experiment of which the aim is to quantify the effects of tillage intensity on lateral flow production, and finally on global water balance. Parameters’ measurements consist in a combined approach, based on two different space-time scales of exploration: fundamental scale, with soil sampling campaign for microtomography analysis, and field scale, with continuous flow measurements (plots’ dimensions: 18*28 m). For their part, parameters for water balance determination (precipitation, evapotranspiration…) are monitored on the field. All of these measurements have the main objective of hydrological modeling enhancement by taking into account a better lateral flow description. Discussion in this paper will focus on the first results obtained by X-ray microtomography measurements. Our experiment takes place in Gentinnes (Walloon Brabant, Belgium), on a field organized in a split-plot scheme. Since 2004, plots have been cultivated in conventional tillage or in reduced tillage. The latter consists in sowing after stubble ploughing of about 10cm. The crop rotation is sugar beet followed by winter wheat. The soil is mainly composed of silt loam. Soils samples, with a 3 cm diameter and a 5 cm height, were removed from the upper layer (Ap horizon) for both management practices. Samples are scanned by X-ray microtomography using a Skyscan-1172 high-resolution desk-top micro-CT system (Skyscan, Kontich, Belgium). The cone beam source operated at 100 kV, using an aluminium filter. The detector configuration, i.e. 1048×2000 pixels 16-bit X-ray camera, and the distance source-object-camera were adjusted to produce images with a pixel size of 17 µm. This resolution allows us to visualize both meso- and macro- porosity. In this study, half the samples were placed under a 15000 kPa pressure (corresponding pressure for the wilting point) in Richards’ apparatus in order to empty the meso- and macro-porosity. To determine a priori the class of porosity for the samples, relations between water retention and pressure head can be plotted using this apparatus. Scanning results consist in 2D images. The 2D images are recombined to form 3D structure. Then the pore network can be analyzed through useful factors like size distribution, shape, connectivity, orientation, tortuosity etc. [less ▲]

Life cycle environmental performance of using substitution fuels in cement production

Poster (2010, February 01)

Life cycle environmental performance of using substitution fuels in cement production

in Programme book : SETAC EUrope 16th LCA Case Studies Symposium : From simplified LCA to advanced LCA (2010, February)