dyetraceronderzoek

Dyetraceronderzoek, or dye-tracer research, is a method in environmental and fluid sciences that uses colored or fluorescent dyes to study transport and mixing in liquids and porous media. It is used in hydrogeology, river hydrology, soil science, and microfluidics.

A dye is released at a known location and time. Common tracers are fluorescein and rhodamine WT. Dyes are chosen for visibility, sensitivity, and environmental footprint. Observations rely on sampling downstream and in situ measurements of absorbance or fluorescence, or on imaging in laboratory setups.

Data are analyzed as breakthrough curves to estimate velocity, dispersion, and residence time. Models range from advection-dispersion equations to numerical simulations. Key parameters include transit time, dispersivity, and retardation. Experiment design considerations include scale, background levels, and potential dye loss or sorption.

Applications include mapping groundwater flow paths and ages, characterizing river mixing, studying soil infiltration, and validating hydrological models or microfluidic devices.

Limitations include adsorption, degradation, and photobleaching, which can bias results. Non-conservative transport, scale effects, and environmental concerns require careful dye selection and adherence to permits and guidelines.

Dye tracing has a long history in hydrology, with standardized tracer-test procedures developed internationally. Dyetraceronderzoek emphasizes transparent methodology, reproducible results, and careful interpretation of non-ideal dye behavior.