Simplified Model for the Remobilization of Colloids and Nanoparticles in Porous Media

Abstract:

When entering the hydrological pathways, natural colloids and engineered nanoparticles may present potential risks to the environment, particularly the soil and groundwater systems. While soils can serve as filter media to immobilize the particles, flow perturbations, such as changes in solution chemistry and flow rate, may remobilize them. Most of the current models on the release of particles in porous media require solving coupled partial different equations that simulate both flow conditions and particle behaviors. This work will present a simple method to model the remobilization of colloids or nanoparticles in porous media. The simplified model assumes that the release of the immobilized particles in the porous media is only controlled by the wet front. It thus can be described by the advection-dispersion equation couple with simple kinetic expressions of particle release. Simulations from the simplified model were tested against experimental data of the remobilization of clay particles in sand column under transient flow conditions. The model results matched the experimental data very well.