Hydrodynamic and Chemical Factors in Clogging by Montmorillonite in Porous Media

Abstract

Clogging by colloid deposits is important in water treatment filters, groundwater aquifers, and petroleum reservoirs. The complexity of colloid deposition and deposit morphology preclude models based on first principles, so this study extends an empirical approach to quantify clogging using a simple, one-parameter model. Experiments were conducted with destabilized suspensions of sodiumand calcium-montmorillonite to quantify the hydrodynamic and chemical factors important in clogging. Greater clogging is observed at slower fluid velocity, consistent with previous investigations. However, calcium-montmorillonite causes one order of magnitude less clogging per mass of deposited particles compared to sodium-montmorillonite or a previously published summary of clogging in model granular media. Steady state conditions, in which the permeability and the quantity of deposited material are both constant, were not observed, even though the experimental conditions were optimized for that purpose. These results indicate that hydrodynamic aspects of clogging by these natural materials are consistent with those of simplified model systems, and they demonstrate significant chemical effects on clogging for fully destabilized montmorillonite clay.

Enhanced arsenic removal by in situ formed Fe–Mn binary oxide in the aeration-direct filtration process

“…Furthermore, the in situ FMBO impacted the characteristics of the particles and flocs, which also accounted for their strengthened attachment to the surfaces of the ripened sand. These results are in accordance with previous studies [33][34][35][36], suggesting that the particle deposition and the filter clogging depend on several factors such as hydrodynamic effects, solution chemistry, surface coatings, particle sizes and the interactions between suspended particles. Fabazi et al [37] investigated the role of polymers in improving floc strength for filtration, and found that the increased potential for floc growth can enhance the removal of small particles.…”

Modification of the Kozeny-Carman Equation to Quantify Formation Damage by Fines in Clean Unconsolidated Porous Media

“…Nine of these data sets, from seven of these studies, were previously analyzed by Mays and Hunt (2005) using a different permeability model. The other two data sets were reported by Mays and Hunt (2007). Each of these studies reported filtration tests where a constant concentration of suspended fines was pumped into an initially clean column of porous media under constant flow.…”

Hydrochemical response of a fractured carbonate aquifer to stress variations: application to leakage detection of the Vouglans arch dam lake (Jura, France)

“…Zengguang et al (2011) demonstrated from hydrodynamical simulations in a radial collecting system of a tailing dam that clogging occurred preferentially around the vertical shafts. Mays and Hunt (2007) showed that clogging increased with decreasing fluid speed. The main cause of precipitation is the adjustment in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in keeping with the atmospheric pressure in the water.…”