Dynamic visualization and quantification of solute transport at pore scale
Contact: Stefanie Van Offenwert
Contaminants in groundwater reservoirs are often dissolved in water that flows through the porous sediment or rock layers. Transport processes like advection, diffusion and mechanical dispersion influence the concentration distribution of these contaminants. A thorough understanding of the transport processes is thus key for e.g. groundwater remediation and waste management. This can be studied by simulations and experimental work. Experimental studies often gather field-scale or cm-scale data. However, the microscopic structures of the pores in the sediment or rock significantly impact transport processes. Laboratory-based micro-computed tomography allows for direct observations of transient pore-scale solute transport. And the visualization of transient solute concentration fields, provides a foundation for quantifying pore-scale transport processes.
