Modeling contaminant migration with linear sorption in strongly heterogeneous media

Journal Article · Sat Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · Journal of Environmental Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(1997)123:11(1116)· OSTI ID:566288

Bai, M; Roegiers, J C ^[1]; Elsworth, D ^[2]; Inyang, H I ^[3]

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1. Univ. of Oklahoma, Norman, OK (United States). Rock Mechanics Inst.
2. Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States). Dept. of Mineral Engineering
3. Univ. of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA (United States). Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering

A triple-porosity model is presented to evaluate transport behavior in porous media with a structure comprising a spectrum of pore sizes, represented discretely as macro-, meso-, and micropores. Characterizations are completed to provide adequate semianalytical solutions for the validation of codes representing discrete distributions of pore geometry and to adequately describe extended tailing and multicomponent solute front breakthroughs apparent in field and laboratory data. Semianalytical solutions are derived for a one dimensional flow geometry by using Laplace transforms under the assumption that solute transport in the two interactive mobile-transport regions (i.e., macro- and mesopores) is affected by exchange with immobile solutes in the micropore region. Sensitivity analyses are conducted to identify the propensity for extensive tailing in the breakthrough response, over single-porosity approaches, and the development of multiple breakthrough fronts with reverse diffusion. Both behaviors result from the strongly heterogeneous nature of the transport processes, accommodated in the multiporosity model, and are well suited to the representation of real porous and porous-fractured disordered media.

• Sponsoring Organization: National Science Foundation, Washington, DC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 566288
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Engineering, Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Engineering Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 123; ISSN 0733-9372; ISSN JOEEDU
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
LAPLACE TRANSFORMATION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
POROUS MATERIALS
SOLUTES
SORPTION