The influence of interfacial properties on two-phase liquid flow of organic contaminants in groundwater

Technical Report · Sat Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6285126· OSTI ID:6285126

Hayes, K F; Demond, A H

The purpose of this project is to investigate how changes in interfacial chemical properties affect two-phase transport relationships. Specifically, the objective is to develop a quantitative theory that will enable the prediction of changes in the capillary pressure-saturation relationship, a fundamental constitutive relationship in multiphase flow modeling, from changes in interfacial properties through a knowledge of their effect on wettability. The information presented here summarizes the progress we have made in the first project period. Based on preliminary adsorption, surface charge and surface potential measurements, we have demonstrated that it is possible to change the wettability of silica in a controlled manner by adsorbing varying quantities of a strongly-binding, cationic surfactant like cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). Adsorption, surface charge and surface potential measurements have been made on the silica-water-CTAB system to yield a relationship between the amount adsorbed and the interfacial potential. Our work on the ideal soil model has demonstrated that the incorporation of roughness effects in the ideal soil model improves the prediction of the operative contact angles for drainage and imbibition from the intrinsic contact angle. This leads to better estimates of the capillary pressure-saturation relationships. Preliminary capillary pressure experiments on the silica-water-air system have shown that adsorption of a surfactant at the solid surface changes the capillary pressure-saturation relationship significantly.

• Research Organization: Michigan Univ., Ann Arbor, MI (USA). Dept. of Civil Engineering
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/ER
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-89ER60820
• OSTI ID: 6285126
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/60820-1; ON: DE91005025
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360603 -- Materials-- Properties
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ADSORPTION
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
DOCUMENT TYPES
FLOW MODELS
FLUID FLOW
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MINERALS
MULTIPHASE FLOW
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHASE STUDIES
POLLUTION
PROGRESS REPORT
SILICA
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SORPTION
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
SURFACE PROPERTIES
SURFACTANTS
WATER
WETTABILITY