Remediation of colloid-facilitated contaminant transport in saturated porous media treated by nanoparticles

• Published in: International journal of environmental science and technology (Tehran) Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 207 - 216
• Main Authors: Arab, D, Pourafshary, P, Ayatollahi, Sh, Habibi, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Iran Center for Environment and Energy Research and Studies (CEERS) 01.02.2014; Springer Berlin Heidelberg; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Bioremediation; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Science and Engineering; Fine particles migration; Groundwater; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Original Paper; Porous materials; Porous media; Soil Science & Conservation; Subsurface colloids; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Zeta potential alteration; Porous media; Subsurface colloids; Fine particles migration; Groundwater; Nanotechnology; Zeta potential alteration
• ISSN: 1735-1472; 1735-2630
• DOI: 10.1007/s13762-013-0311-3

Facilitation of contaminant transport in porous media due to the effect of indigenous colloidal fine materials has been widely observed in laboratory and field studies. It has been explained by the increase in the apparent solubility of low soluble contaminants as a result of their adsorption on the surface of fine particles. Attachment of colloidal fine particles onto the rock surface could be a promising remedy for this challenge. In this experimental study, the effect of five types of metal oxide nanoparticles, γ-Al2O3, ZnO, CuO, MgO, and SiO2, on suspension transport was investigated. In several core flooding tests, different nanofluids were used to saturate the synthetic porous media. Subsequently, after sufficient soaking time, the suspension was injected into the treated porous media. Analysis of the effluent samples' concentration by Turbidimeter apparatus demonstrated that the presence of nanoparticles on the rock surface resulted in a significant reduction in fine concentrations in the effluent samples compared with non-treated media; ZnO and γ- Al2O3 demonstrated the best scenarios among the tests performed in this study. In order to characterize the surface properties of the treated porous media, the zeta potential of the surface was measured. Results showed that the treated porous media acts as a strong adsorbent of fine particles, which are the main carrier of contaminants in porous media. These findings were quantitatively confirmed by calculation of the total energy of interaction between the fine particles and rock surface