Influence of clay particles on Al2O3 and TiO2 nanoparticles transport and retention through limestone porous media: measurements and mechanisms

Abstract

Utilization of nanoparticles (NPs) for a broad range of applications has caused considerable quantities of these materials to be released into the environment. Issues of how and where the NPs are distributed into the subsurface aquatic environments are questions for those in environmental engineering. This study investigated the influence of three abundant clay minerals namely kaolinite, montmorillonite, and illite in the subsurface natural aquatic systems on the transport and retention of aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 , 40 nm) and titanium dioxide (TiO 2 , 10-30 nm) NPs through saturated limestone porous media. The clay concentrations in porous media were set at 2 and 4 vol% of the holder capacity. Breakthrough curves in the columns outlets were measured using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. It was found that the maximum NPs recoveries were obtained when there was no clay particle in the porous medium. On the other hand, increase in concentration of clay particles has resulted in the NPs recoveries being significantly declined. Due to fibrous structure of illite, it was found to be more effective for NPs retention in comparison to montmorillonite and kaolinite. Overall, the position of clay particles in the porous media pores and their morphologies were found to be two main reasons for increase of NPs retention in porous media.

Effects of clay minerals on transport of graphene oxide in saturated porous media

“…Data on montmorillonite at 5% weight of the packed column were not included because of clogging of the soil column. Although kaolinite has smaller specific surface area than montmorillonite [23], the edge area of kaolinite contributes up to 20% [25,26,[31][32][33][34][35].…”

“…The apparatus of the column experiments is depicted in Supplemental Data, Figure S1. Kaolinite, montmorillonite, or illite powder was mixed with the quartz sand to result in a clay content of 1% to 5% (w/w) of the holder capacity (the range of clay content was selected on the basis of the literature [23,30]). After adequate mixing, the mixture was dry-packed into the columns to give a uniform distribution of clay particles in the columns.…”

“…A particularly important component of natural aquifer soils is clay minerals [14][15][16], which often contain abundant amphoteric sites under common environmental conditions [17] and, consequently, may significantly affect the transport of both negatively charged and positively charged nanoparticles by rendering favorable deposition sites [18][19][20][21]. Note that subsurface porous media often contain different types of clay minerals that vary significantly in physicochemical properties [18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. Note that subsurface porous media often contain different types of clay minerals that vary significantly in physicochemical properties [18][19][20][21][22][23][24].…”

Mechanism governing nanoparticle flow behaviour in porous media: insight for enhanced oil recovery applications

“…Resiga et al [122] Magnetite Newtonian Magnetite in transformer oil Duan et al [117] Graphite Shear-thinning Graphite in deionized water enhancement of nanoparticle held for 3-days was higher than freshly prepared one Moghaddam et al [118] Graphene Shear thinning/Newtonian Shear thinning for at all temperature and low shear rate. At high shear rate it was Newtonian, then thinning with increase in concentration Moatter and Cagincara [121] Fe 3 O 4 Shear thinning Fe 3 O 4 in PEG all suspension showed shearthinning Zaballa et al [101] Alumina Adsorption Alumina was used at reservoir condition with Mirador-formation plug cores, production increased by 100,000bbl Bayat et al [97] Al 2 O 3 , TiO 2 Retention Decline in recovery as a result of clay in the porous media, position of clay at the porethroat caused trapping Cheraghain [137] Fumed-silica Pseudoplastic Viscosity increased with weight of nanoparticle nanoparticle retention and entrapment must be prevented to the barest minimum for a successful wettability alteration to be achieved.…”

“…The solid surface adsorption starts to increase until a bilayer is formed on the solid surface. Addition of nanoparticles helps the molecules at the liquid-liquid interface and affect the interfacial and adsorption behaviour of the process [96,97]. Even when nanoparticles are of the right size and stable in solution, adsorption can also impede their transportation through porous media.…”