Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 5.8 Diagrammatic representation of transport of a labeled suspension through soil; SS
denotes suspended solids (Vinten et al.
1983
)
nature of the surrounding porous medium. A declining deposition rate is observed
when particle-particle interactions are repulsive, so that the potential deposition
zone becomes progressively occluded as particles accumulate; this leads to a
blocking phenomenon.
Ryan and Elimelech (
1996
) note that conventional filtration theories are
applicable only to the initial stage, when mineral grains are devoid of retained
particles. As particles deposit onto mineral surface sites with charge characteristics
favorable for deposition, the particle deposition rate progressively declines due to
the blocking phenomenon. The heterogeneity of the subsurface makes application
of deposition models very difficult, and therefore, they usually are relevant only for
well-defined materials. Amitay-Rosen et al. (
2005
) used magnetic resonance
imaging to demonstrate spatial and temporal deposition and trapping patterns of
colloids in porous media.
