AquaHold for a phase separation

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AquaHold for a phase separation

• in comparison with
• traditional techniques

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The traditional way

• The phase separation is done
• with a geo-textile on which
• gravel is loaded.
• The good soil is employed on
• the gravel.
• The gaps within the gravel
• prevent a capillary interaction
• between the top soil and the
• underground with a salt load in
• deeper sections.

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With each irrigation the soil is watered and is
soaked with water. The water flows through the
fine capillaries towards the gravel.
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The water washes fine soil particles into the
gaps of the gravel.
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The gaps of the gravel are filled up after
various irrigation tasks with fine soil
particles. Herewith the function of the gaps are
gone. Capillary bridges are build up !
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The water flows into the deeper section of the
soil.
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Now the water gets contact with the salty section
of the deeper ground. The salt load climbs up by
being solved in the deep reaching water.
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Very soon after some irrigations the salt
reaches the geo-textile
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Via the capillary bridges the barrier get
past. Salt is now climbing up into the good soil.
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And depending from the irrigation quantity and
frequency it is just a question of time, when the
total soil is spoiled.
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Plants are dying !
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Salt is all over, the ground is dead ! Only a
total exchange of the soil and the separation
layers can change the situation. But just for
the next some months and everything starts again
and again !
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The solution out of the dilemma

• AquaHold sandwich as
• triple layer will help !
• AquaHold is breathable but water repellent
• Defined spacers keeping the capillary
  disconnection alive.
• The ground layer prevents the filling of the
  spaces from below.

Patent pending !
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How AquaHold works
Irrigation water sinks down to the AquaHold
geo-textile, but cant penetrate due to the low
surface tension and the water repellent property
of Aquahold. No water loss and no filling up of
the spacer !
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In the case of an over-irrigation

• The porosity of both layers of AquaHold is
  different
• With a water column of about 5cm, AquaHold
  becomes water-transparent
• The water carries also soil particles into the
  spacer section, but the can also penetrate to
  lower layer
• Out of this reason the spacer section is not
  filled up
• The phase separation remains permanent !

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AquaHolds unique capability

• Just the Solaflon coated geo-textile AquaHold
  showsthe necessary features
• high water repellence due to the micro coating
• pervious to air
• excellent stability due to micro fluoropolymer
  coating

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The features in detail

• The water repellence of AquaHold prevents the
  water penetration under normal irrigation
  conditions, but saves the water for the plants
• Because AquaHold is pervious to air all anaerobic
  processes will be avoided and the decay of the
  roots cant occur
• AquaSoil is just water repellent, but not water
  tight. That allows the flooding with water to
  give the opportunity to the irrigation salt out
  of the soil without destroying the spacer
  function
• Due to the micro-coating with Solaflon as
  fluoropolymer the PP felt of AquaHold textile
  remains stable under any condition
• The right design of the layers, textiles and
  spacer, guaranties the long lasting property as
  phase seperator

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Newest research results

• To optimise the hydrophobic feature of AquaHold
  as sandwich structure, a layer of white peat ( no
  peat moss or coconut peat ) should be applied on
  the upper geo-textile to avoid the contact from
  the topsoil to the AquaHold felt. 
• Because a good soil like AquaSoil contains a high
  portion of super absorbent, which is hydrophilic,
  the contact to the special geo-textile could
  partly inhibit the function. That means materials
  with two antithetical surface tensions should be
  separated, what is realised with the white peat
  layer.

The first time exists a defined level to detect
the surplus of water. Sensors or pairs of
metallic conductors should be employed on the
upper AquaHold felt. If the irrigation water will
reach these sensors, the electrical resistance
between the conductors drops down, what can be
used as signal to switch of the irrigation.
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Gold medal for AquaHold
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Thank you very much for your kind attention !

• G4 / AquaSoil department
• Riad Hassi Prof. G.K. Brueck