A METHOD FOR CREATING SOIL CORE MONOLITHS USING A SOLUTION OF ACETONE AND POLYVINYLIDENE CHLORIDE

A solution of acetone and polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) was used to create nine soil core monoliths from previously extracted cores. Acetone proved to be a suitable solvent for PVDC facilitating transport of the solute throughout the pore spaces. After acetone evaporation the PVDC residue formed a somewhat equally-distributed film that bonded all of the soil particles together within each soil core. This quality is desirable for creating soil core monoliths which must maintain the preservation of a series of soil horizons obtained in situ. Several different mixing ratios of the solution were used; all of these solutions produced successful soil core monoliths. Care was used to impregnate the soil cores without disturbing horizonation and particle distribution within the profiles. Nine soil core monoliths were created using the 13.02 m core sample. These are now kept at the University of Georgia's Department of Geology in Athens, Georgia.