Adaptation of the perfluorocarbon tracer technology for aqueous-phase studies in subsurface applications

The perfluorocarbon tracer (PFT) technology as developed by the Tracer Technology Center at Brookhaven National Laboratory can be easily adapted for use as in aqueous-phase tracer studies in subsurface hydrological applications. The advantages of the PFT technology in this application is that it is a multi-tracer technology, up to 5 or 6 PFTs may be used in an experiment, the PFTs are completely non-toxic and inert, the PFTs can be detected to 4 orders greater sensitivity than fluorescent dyes. The disadvantages are that the PFTs are only sparingly soluble in water and are also volatile. They are minimized by the PFT deployment and sampling methodologies which are given in this report. 15 refs., 3 tabs.