Recent advances in anomalous transport models for predicting contaminants in natural groundwater systems

Publication date: December 2019Source: Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering, Volume 26Author(s): Diogo Bolster, Kevin R Roche, Verónica L MoralesHigh degrees of spatial heterogeneity in hydrologic systems pose a major barrier for their protection and remediation. Dissolved and particulate contaminants are mixed and retained over timescales ranging from seconds to years due to their interactions with these structural heterogeneities. Over the last two decades, a new class of models has demonstrated its capacity to describe observed ‘anomalous transport’ behavior that is ubiquitous to nearly all flowing waters. The promise of these models lies in their potential for predicting transport using minimal parameters, while remaining faithful to the underlying complexity of the system. In this review, we highlight recent experimental studies that have improved our understanding of the structural controls of anomalous transport, as well as modeling studies that use these new insights to better predict contaminant fate.Graphical abstract(a) Illustration of fluid flow and transport phenomena across scales: from pore to fracture to field scale (image taken from Kang Research Group; URL: https://pkkang.com). (b) Long tailings of breakthrough curves in weathered rock display characteristic signatures of anomalous transport [2].

Source: Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering - October 24, 2019 Category: Chemistry Source Type: research