Experimental Investigation of Soil Adsorption Effects on Water Migration in Simulated Lunar Conditions

Adsorption is a key mechanism governing water vapor diffusion in lunar regolith. To investigate this process, we conducted experiments under simulated lunar conditions—Knudsen diffusion conditions—using three soil types with varying water vapor adsorption heats and specific surface areas. Results sh...

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Main Authors: Yasheng Li, Zhi Wen, Wei Ma, Mingli Zhang, Chengdan He
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2025-01-01
Series:The Planetary Science Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ade5b0
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author Yasheng Li
Zhi Wen
Wei Ma
Mingli Zhang
Chengdan He
author_facet Yasheng Li
Zhi Wen
Wei Ma
Mingli Zhang
Chengdan He
author_sort Yasheng Li
collection DOAJ
description Adsorption is a key mechanism governing water vapor diffusion in lunar regolith. To investigate this process, we conducted experiments under simulated lunar conditions—Knudsen diffusion conditions—using three soil types with varying water vapor adsorption heats and specific surface areas. Results show that soils with higher adsorption heat and larger surface area captured more water vapor. Lower temperatures enhanced water retention across all soil types. In samples with underlying ice, upward migration of water vapor was hindered by adsorption onto soil particles, reducing water loss. Montmorillonite, with its superior adsorption properties, retained the most water under all test conditions. These findings suggest that cold lunar regoliths with high adsorption capacity may act as a favorable reservoir for water accumulation.
format Article
id doaj-art-0b1e1c5dc63047d9846ebe22a0e398bc
institution Kabale University
issn 2632-3338
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher IOP Publishing
record_format Article
series The Planetary Science Journal
spelling doaj-art-0b1e1c5dc63047d9846ebe22a0e398bc2025-08-20T03:47:17ZengIOP PublishingThe Planetary Science Journal2632-33382025-01-016819610.3847/PSJ/ade5b0Experimental Investigation of Soil Adsorption Effects on Water Migration in Simulated Lunar ConditionsYasheng Li0Zhi Wen1Wei Ma2Mingli Zhang3Chengdan He4Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Lanzhou 730000, People’s Republic of China ; wenzhi@lzb.ac.cn; Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources Exploration and Evaluation , Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, People’s Republic of ChinaKey Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Lanzhou 730000, People’s Republic of China ; wenzhi@lzb.ac.cnKey Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Lanzhou 730000, People’s Republic of China ; wenzhi@lzb.ac.cnKey Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Lanzhou 730000, People’s Republic of China ; wenzhi@lzb.ac.cn; College of Civil Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology , Lanzhou, Gansu 730050, People’s Republic of China; Geological Hazards Prevention Institute, Gansu Academy of Sciences , Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, People’s Republic of ChinaScience and Technology on Vacuum Technology and Physics Laboratory, Lanzhou Institute of Space Technology Physics , Lanzhou 730000, People’s Republic of ChinaAdsorption is a key mechanism governing water vapor diffusion in lunar regolith. To investigate this process, we conducted experiments under simulated lunar conditions—Knudsen diffusion conditions—using three soil types with varying water vapor adsorption heats and specific surface areas. Results show that soils with higher adsorption heat and larger surface area captured more water vapor. Lower temperatures enhanced water retention across all soil types. In samples with underlying ice, upward migration of water vapor was hindered by adsorption onto soil particles, reducing water loss. Montmorillonite, with its superior adsorption properties, retained the most water under all test conditions. These findings suggest that cold lunar regoliths with high adsorption capacity may act as a favorable reservoir for water accumulation.https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ade5b0Lunar scienceLunar atmosphereLunar mineralogyLunar surface
spellingShingle Yasheng Li
Zhi Wen
Wei Ma
Mingli Zhang
Chengdan He
Experimental Investigation of Soil Adsorption Effects on Water Migration in Simulated Lunar Conditions
The Planetary Science Journal
Lunar science
Lunar atmosphere
Lunar mineralogy
Lunar surface
title Experimental Investigation of Soil Adsorption Effects on Water Migration in Simulated Lunar Conditions
title_full Experimental Investigation of Soil Adsorption Effects on Water Migration in Simulated Lunar Conditions
title_fullStr Experimental Investigation of Soil Adsorption Effects on Water Migration in Simulated Lunar Conditions
title_full_unstemmed Experimental Investigation of Soil Adsorption Effects on Water Migration in Simulated Lunar Conditions
title_short Experimental Investigation of Soil Adsorption Effects on Water Migration in Simulated Lunar Conditions
title_sort experimental investigation of soil adsorption effects on water migration in simulated lunar conditions
topic Lunar science
Lunar atmosphere
Lunar mineralogy
Lunar surface
url https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ade5b0
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AT zhiwen experimentalinvestigationofsoiladsorptioneffectsonwatermigrationinsimulatedlunarconditions
AT weima experimentalinvestigationofsoiladsorptioneffectsonwatermigrationinsimulatedlunarconditions
AT minglizhang experimentalinvestigationofsoiladsorptioneffectsonwatermigrationinsimulatedlunarconditions
AT chengdanhe experimentalinvestigationofsoiladsorptioneffectsonwatermigrationinsimulatedlunarconditions