Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Colloidal transport and filtration in porous media are commonly described by single-collector models that assume an underlying homogeneous structure. We use microfluidic experiments, particle tracking, and simulations to observe pore-scale and macroscopic filtration. We show that colloidal trajectories in heterogeneous porous structures are inherently intermittent and composed of flights far from grains and dives near their surfaces, where attachment can occur. We propose a stochastic continuous-time random walk model to link this intermittent behavior to macroscopic deposition profiles and breakthrough curves.
Source: Physical Review Letters
DOI: 10.1103/122c-f92l
Institutions: University of Lausanne, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Physique de Rennes, Université de Rennes, University of California, Davis, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Language: English
Subfield: Environmental Engineering
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: Collaborative Research: Investigating Hyporheic Zone Reaction Enhancement by Bioclogging Across Scales, G2474008183, Reactive-Transport in confined micro-structures: unraveling the link between structure, flow, filtration and colonization, Flows in confined micro-structures: coupling physical heterogeneity and bio-chemical processes, Nanoparticle Filtration in Structurally Heterogeneous Soil, CAREER: Fundamental Controls of Transport Attributes from Porous Media Microstructure, G993971353
OpenAlex ID: W7164054224