Effects of Pore Structure Change and Multi-Scale Heterogeneity on Contaminant Transport and Reaction Rate Upscaling
- Stony Brook Univ., NY (United States); Princeton University
- Stony Brook Univ., NY (United States); Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Princeton Univ., NJ (United States)
This project addressed the scaling of geochemical reactions to core and field scales, and the interrelationship between reaction rates and flow in porous media. We targeted reactive transport problems relevant to the Hanford site – specifically the reaction of highly caustic, radioactive waste solutions with subsurface sediments, and the immobilization of 90Sr and 129I through mineral incorporation and passive flow blockage, respectively. We addressed the correlation of results for pore-scale fluid-soil interaction with field-scale fluid flow, with the specific goals of (i) predicting attenuation of radionuclide concentration; (ii) estimating changes in flow rates through changes of soil permeabilities; and (iii) estimating effective reaction rates. In supplemental work, we also simulated reactive transport systems relevant to geologic carbon sequestration. As a whole, this research generated a better understanding of reactive transport in porous media, and resulted in more accurate methods for reaction rate upscaling and improved prediction of permeability evolution. These scientific advancements will ultimately lead to better tools for management and remediation of DOE legacy waste problems.
- Research Organization:
- Princeton Univ., NJ (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
- DOE Contract Number:
- SC0001083
- OSTI ID:
- 1079620
- Report Number(s):
- DOE-DE--FG02-09ER64747-3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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