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Voigtländer A, Houssais M, Bacik KA, Bourg IC, Burton JC, Daniels KE, Datta SS, Del Gado E, Deshpande NS, Devauchelle O, Ferdowsi B, Glade R, Goehring L, Hewitt IJ, Jerolmack D, Juanes R, Kudrolli A, Lai CY, Li W, Masteller C, Nissanka K, Rubin AM, Stone HA, Suckale J, Vriend NM, Wettlaufer JS, Yang JQ. Soft matter physics of the ground beneath our feet. SOFT MATTER 2024. [PMID: 39012310 DOI: 10.1039/d4sm00391h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
The soft part of the Earth's surface - the ground beneath our feet - constitutes the basis for life and natural resources, yet a general physical understanding of the ground is still lacking. In this critical time of climate change, cross-pollination of scientific approaches is urgently needed to better understand the behavior of our planet's surface. The major topics in current research in this area cross different disciplines, spanning geosciences, and various aspects of engineering, material sciences, physics, chemistry, and biology. Among these, soft matter physics has emerged as a fundamental nexus connecting and underpinning many research questions. This perspective article is a multi-voice effort to bring together different views and approaches, questions and insights, from researchers that work in this emerging area, the soft matter physics of the ground beneath our feet. In particular, we identify four major challenges concerned with the dynamics in and of the ground: (I) modeling from the grain scale, (II) near-criticality, (III) bridging scales, and (IV) life. For each challenge, we present a selection of topics by individual authors, providing specific context, recent advances, and open questions. Through this, we seek to provide an overview of the opportunities for the broad Soft Matter community to contribute to the fundamental understanding of the physics of the ground, strive towards a common language, and encourage new collaborations across the broad spectrum of scientists interested in the matter of the Earth's surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Voigtländer
- German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), Geomorphology, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany.
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Energy Geosciences Division, 1 Cyclotron Rd, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Morgane Houssais
- Department of Physics, Clark University, 950 Main St, Worcester, MA 01610, USA
| | - Karol A Bacik
- Department of Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ian C Bourg
- Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) and High Meadows Environmental Institute (HMEI), Princeton University, E208 EQuad, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - Justin C Burton
- Department of Physics, Emory University, 400 Dowman Dr, Atlanta, GA 30033, USA
| | - Karen E Daniels
- North Carolina State University, 2401 Stinson Dr, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Sujit S Datta
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Emanuela Del Gado
- Department of Physics, Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Nakul S Deshpande
- North Carolina State University, 2401 Stinson Dr, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Olivier Devauchelle
- Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Université Paris Cité, 1 rue Jussieu, CNRS, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Behrooz Ferdowsi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, jUniversity of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Rachel Glade
- Earth & Environmental Sciences Department and Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Rochester, 227 Hutchison Hall, P.O. Box 270221, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Lucas Goehring
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG11 8NS, UK
| | - Ian J Hewitt
- Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Douglas Jerolmack
- Department of Earth & Environmental Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ruben Juanes
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Arshad Kudrolli
- Department of Physics, Clark University, 950 Main St, Worcester, MA 01610, USA
| | - Ching-Yao Lai
- Department of Geophysics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Stony Brook University, Department of Civil Engineering, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Claire Masteller
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Kavinda Nissanka
- Department of Physics, Emory University, 400 Dowman Dr, Atlanta, GA 30033, USA
| | - Allan M Rubin
- Department of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Howard A Stone
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Jenny Suckale
- Computational and Mathematical Engineering, and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Nathalie M Vriend
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - John S Wettlaufer
- Departments of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Mathematics and Physics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Judy Q Yang
- Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory and Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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Hoggarth J, Ono-Dit-Biot JC, Dalnoki-Veress K. Two-dimensional spreading of frictionless adhesive oil droplets. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:3747-3753. [PMID: 37191096 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm01655a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
When sand flows out of a funnel onto a surface, a three dimensional pile that is stabilized by friction grows taller as it spreads. Here we investigate an idealized two dimensional analogue: spreading of a pile of monodisperse oil droplets at a boundary. In our system the droplets are buoyant, adhesive, and in contrast to sand, friction is negligible. The buoyant droplets are added to the pile one-at-a-time. As the aggregate grows, it reaches a critical height and the 2D pile spreads out across the barrier. We find that, while granularity is important, the growth process is reminiscent of a continuum liquid. A "granular capillary length", analogous to the capillary length in liquids, sets the critical height of the aggregate through a balance of buoyancy and adhesion. At a coarse-grained level, the granular capillary length is capable of describing both steady-state characteristics and dynamic properties of the system, while at a granular level repeated collapsing events play a critical role in the formation of the pile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johnathan Hoggarth
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4M1, Canada.
| | - Jean-Christophe Ono-Dit-Biot
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4M1, Canada.
| | - Kari Dalnoki-Veress
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4M1, Canada.
- UMR CNRS Gulliver 7083, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
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3
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Delouche N, Dersoir B, Schofield AB, Tabuteau H. Structure and flow conditions through a colloidal packed bed formed under flow and confinement. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:8995-9007. [PMID: 36385518 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm00419d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
When a colloidal suspension flows in a constriction, particles deposit and are able to clog it entirely, this fouling process being followed by the accumulation of particles. The knowledge of the dynamics of formation of such a dense particle assembly behind the clog head and its structural features is of primary importance in many industrial and environmental processes and especially during filtration. While most studies concentrate on the conditions under which pore clogging occurs, i.e., the pore narrowing up to its complete obstruction, this paper focuses on the accumulation of particles that follows pore obstruction. We determine the relative contribution of the confinement dimensions, the ionic strength and the flow conditions on the permeability and particle volume fraction of the resultant accumulation. In high confinement the irreversible deposition of particles on the channel surfaces controls the structure of the accumulation and the flow through it, irrespective of the other conditions, leading to a Darcy flow. Finally, we show that contrarily to the clog head, in which there is cohesion between particles, those in the subsequent accumulation are held together by the fluid and form a dense suspension of repulsive hard spheres.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Delouche
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, IPR (Institut de Physique de Rennes)-UMR 6251, F-35000 Rennes, France.
| | - B Dersoir
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, IPR (Institut de Physique de Rennes)-UMR 6251, F-35000 Rennes, France.
| | - A B Schofield
- School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, The James Clerk Maxwell Building, The King's Buildings, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh, UK
| | - H Tabuteau
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, IPR (Institut de Physique de Rennes)-UMR 6251, F-35000 Rennes, France.
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Kim DY, Jung SY, Lee YJ, Ahn KH. Effect of Colloidal Interactions and Hydrodynamic Stress on Particle Deposition in a Single Micropore. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:6013-6022. [PMID: 35507428 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Clogging is ubiquitous. It happens in a wide range of material processing and causes severe performance degradation or process breakdown. In this study, we investigate clogging dynamics in a single micropore by controlling the surface property of the particle and processing condition. Microfluidic observation is conducted to investigate particle deposition in a contraction microchannel where polystyrene suspension is injected as a feed solution. The particle deposition area is quantified using the images taken using a CCD camera in both upstream and downstream of the microchannel. Pressure drop across the microchannel is also measured. When the particle interaction is repulsive, the deposition occurs mostly in downstream, while an opposite tendency is identified when the particle interaction is attractive. More complex deposition characteristics are found as the flow rate is changed. Particle flux density and the ratio of lift force to colloidal force are introduced to explain the clogging dynamics. This study provides a useful insight to alleviate clogging issues by controlling the colloidal interaction and hydrodynamic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dae Yeon Kim
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Seon Yeop Jung
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Dankook University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 16890, Korea
| | - Young Jin Lee
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Kyung Hyun Ahn
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
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Prakash P, Abdulla AZ, Varma M. Contact Force Mediated Rapid Deposition of Colloidal Microspheres Flowing over Microstructured Barriers. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2021; 37:6915-6922. [PMID: 34076447 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c00370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Deposition of particles while flowing past constrictions is a ubiquitous phenomenon observed in diverse systems. Some common examples are jamming of salt crystals near the orifice of salt shakers, clogging of filter systems, gridlock in vehicular traffic, etc. Our work investigates the deposition events of colloidal microspheres flowing over microstructured barriers in microfluidic devices. The interplay of DLVO, contact, and hydrodynamic forces in facilitating rapid deposition of microspheres is discussed. Noticeably, a decrease in the electrostatic repulsion among microspheres leads to linear chain formations, whereas an increase in roughness results in rapid deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Prakash
- Centre for Nanoscience and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - A Z Abdulla
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - M Varma
- Centre for Nanoscience and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
- Robert Bosch Centre for Cyber Physical Systems, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
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Mokrane ML, Desclaux T, Morris JF, Joseph P, Liot O. Microstructure of the near-wall layer of filtration-induced colloidal assembly. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:9726-9737. [PMID: 32996535 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01143f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This paper describes an experimental study of filtration of a colloidal suspension using microfluidic devices. A suspension of micrometer-scale colloids flows through parallel slit-shaped pores at fixed pressure drop. Clogs and cakes are systematically observed at pore entrance, for variable applied pressure drop and ionic strength. Based on image analysis of the layer of colloids close to the device wall, global and local studies are performed to analyse in detail the near-wall layer microstructure. Whereas global porosity of this layer does not seem to be affected by ionic strength and applied pressure drop, a local study shows some heterogeneity: clogs are more porous at the vicinity of the pore than far away. An analysis of medium-range order using radial distribution function shows a slightly more organized state at high ionic strength. This is confirmed by a local analysis using two-dimension continuous wavelet decomposition: the typical size of crystals of colloids is larger for low ionic strength, and it increases with distance from the pores. We bring these results together in a phase diagram involving colloid-colloid repulsive interactions and fluid velocity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohand Larbi Mokrane
- Institut de Mécanique des Fluides de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France.
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Bizmark N, Schneider J, Priestley RD, Datta SS. Multiscale dynamics of colloidal deposition and erosion in porous media. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:6/46/eabc2530. [PMID: 33188022 PMCID: PMC7673751 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abc2530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Diverse processes-e.g., environmental pollution, groundwater remediation, oil recovery, filtration, and drug delivery-involve the transport of colloidal particles in porous media. Using confocal microscopy, we directly visualize this process in situ and thereby identify the fundamental mechanisms by which particles are distributed throughout a medium. At high injection pressures, hydrodynamic stresses cause particles to be continually deposited on and eroded from the solid matrix-notably, forcing them to be distributed throughout the entire medium. By contrast, at low injection pressures, the relative influence of erosion is suppressed, causing particles to localize near the inlet of the medium. Unexpectedly, these macroscopic distribution behaviors depend on imposed pressure in similar ways for particles of different charges, although the pore-scale distribution of deposition is sensitive to particle charge. These results reveal how the multiscale interactions between fluid, particles, and the solid matrix control how colloids are distributed in a porous medium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navid Bizmark
- Princeton Institute for the Science and Technology of Materials, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Joanna Schneider
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Rodney D Priestley
- Princeton Institute for the Science and Technology of Materials, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Sujit S Datta
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
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Yan Z, Huang X, Shui L, Yang C. Kinetics of colloidal particle deposition in microfluidic systems under temperature gradients: experiment and modelling. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:3649-3656. [PMID: 32202268 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm02102g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The deposition of colloidal particles can cause particulate fouling on solid walls and the formation of clogs during the transport of colloidal suspensions in microchannels. The particle deposition rate grows over time and blocks the microchannels eventually. The process of particle deposition is affected by various physicochemical parameters. In this paper, we investigate the effect of temperature gradient on the particle deposition of a pressure-driven suspension flow in a microchannel. We designed a microfluidic device which can allow direct observation of the real-time process of particle deposition with single-particle resolution along the direction of applied temperature gradient. The experimental results show that particle deposition rate is decreased by increasing the applied temperature gradients. Based on the framework of the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory, we then derive a mass transport model to describe the particle deposition under different temperature gradients. The model shows that the observed reduction of particle deposition rate with temperature gradient is due to the collective effect of the temperature gradient and the bulk solution temperature in the two steps of the particle deposition process, including the particle transport and the particle attachment. Our work illustrates the critical effects of temperature gradients on the particle deposition in microchannels, and is expected to provide a better understanding of thermally driven particulate fouling and clogging in microfluidic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhibin Yan
- National Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China. and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiaoyang Huang
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore
| | - Lingling Shui
- National Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China. and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China and School of Information and Optoelectronic Science and Engineering, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Chun Yang
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore
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Cejas CM, Maini L, Monti F, Tabeling P. Deposition kinetics of bi- and tridisperse colloidal suspensions in microchannels under the van der Waals regime. SOFT MATTER 2019; 15:7438-7447. [PMID: 31502623 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm01098j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We investigate the kinetics of irreversible adsorption under the van der Waals regime, i.e. weakly Brownian polydisperse colloidal suspensions injected into shallow microchannels at high ionic strengths, where each suspension is represented by populations of particles with different particle sizes. We find that each population size of the particle in the suspension can be treated independently using an analytical solution based on the advection-diffusion equation and that the distribution of the adsorbed particles along the channel axis behaves according to a power law. The experimental measurements agree with Langevin simulations and are well accounted for by theory valid in the van der Waals regime. Operating in the van der Waals regime permits the present study to confirm the use of microfluidics as an effective in situ method to measure the Hamaker constant of particles under aqueous conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesare M Cejas
- Microfluidics, MEMS, Nanostructures Laboratory, CNRS Chimie Biologie Innovation (CBI) UMR 8231, Institut Pierre Gilles de Gennes (IPGG), ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, 6 rue Jean Calvin, 75005, Paris, France.
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10
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Dersoir B, Schofield A, Robert de Saint Vincent M, Tabuteau H. Dynamics of pore fouling by colloidal particles at the particle level. J Memb Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2018.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Liot O, Singh A, Bacchin P, Duru P, Morris JF, Joseph P. Pore cross-talk in colloidal filtration. Sci Rep 2018; 8:12460. [PMID: 30127500 PMCID: PMC6102238 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-30389-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Blockage of pores by particles is found in many processes, including filtration and oil extraction. We present filtration experiments through a linear array of ten channels with one dimension which is sub-micron, through which a dilute dispersion of Brownian polystyrene spheres flows under the action of a fixed pressure drop. The growth rate of a clog formed by particles at a pore entrance systematically increases with the number of already saturated (entirely clogged) pores, indicating that there is an interaction or “cross-talk” between the pores. This observation is interpreted based on a phenomenological model, stating that a diffusive redistribution of particles occurs along the membrane, from clogged to free pores. This one-dimensional model could be extended to two-dimensional membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Liot
- LAAS-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France. .,Fédération FERMaT, INP, Toulouse, France. .,Institut Lumière Matière, CNRS, Villeurbanne, France.
| | - Akash Singh
- LAAS-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - Patrice Bacchin
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - Paul Duru
- Institut de Mécanique des Fluides de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - Jeffrey F Morris
- Levich Institute and Chemical Engineering, CUNY City College of New York, New York, USA
| | - Pierre Joseph
- LAAS-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France
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13
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Kim Y, Ahn KH, Lee SJ. Clogging mechanism of poly(styrene) particles in the flow through a single micro-pore. J Memb Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2017.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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14
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Abstract
The transport of suspensions of microparticles in confined environments is associated with complex phenomena at the interface of fluid mechanics and soft matter. Indeed, the deposition and assembly of particles under flow involve hydrodynamic, steric and colloidal forces, and can lead to the clogging of microchannels. The formation of clogs dramatically alters the performance of both natural and engineered systems, effectively limiting the use of microfluidic technology. While the fouling of porous filters has been studied at the macroscopic level, it is only recently that the formation of clogs has been considered at the pore-scale, using microfluidic devices. In this review, we present the clogging mechanisms recently reported for suspension flows of colloidal particles and for biofluids in microfluidic channels, including sieving, bridging and aggregation of particles. We discuss the technological implications of the clogging of microchannels and the schemes that leverage the formation of clogs. We finally consider some of the outstanding challenges involving clogging in human health, which could be tackled with microfluidic methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Dressaire
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA.
| | - Alban Sauret
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA. and Surface du Verre et Interfaces, UMR 125 CNRS/Saint-Gobain, 93303 Aubervilliers, France
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15
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Lin YJ, He P, Tavakkoli M, Mathew NT, Fatt YY, Chai JC, Goharzadeh A, Vargas FM, Biswal SL. Examining Asphaltene Solubility on Deposition in Model Porous Media. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2016; 32:8729-8734. [PMID: 27532331 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.6b02376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Asphaltenes are known to cause severe flow assurance problems in the near-wellbore region of oil reservoirs. Understanding the mechanism of asphaltene deposition in porous media is of great significance for the development of accurate numerical simulators and effective chemical remediation treatments. Here, we present a study of the dynamics of asphaltene deposition in porous media using microfluidic devices. A model oil containing 5 wt % dissolved asphaltenes was mixed with n-heptane, a known asphaltene precipitant, and flowed through a representative porous media microfluidic chip. Asphaltene deposition was recorded and analyzed as a function of solubility, which was directly correlated to particle size and Péclet number. In particular, pore-scale visualization and velocity profiles, as well as three stages of deposition, were identified and examined to determine the important convection-diffusion effects on deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Jiun Lin
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University , Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Peng He
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University , Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Mohammad Tavakkoli
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University , Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Nevin Thunduvila Mathew
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Petroleum Institute , Post Office Box 2533, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Yap Yit Fatt
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Petroleum Institute , Post Office Box 2533, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - John C Chai
- School of Computing and Engineering, University of Huddersfield , Huddersfield HD1 3DH, United Kingdom
| | - Afshin Goharzadeh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Petroleum Institute , Post Office Box 2533, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Francisco M Vargas
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University , Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Sibani Lisa Biswal
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University , Houston, Texas 77005, United States
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Bacteria Delay the Jamming of Particles at Microchannel Bottlenecks. Sci Rep 2016; 6:31471. [PMID: 27510611 PMCID: PMC4980593 DOI: 10.1038/srep31471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2016] [Accepted: 07/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Clogging of channels by complex systems such as mixtures of colloidal and biological particles is commonly encountered in different applications. In this work, we analyze and compare the clogging mechanisms and dynamics by pure and mixture suspensions of polystyrene latex particles and Escherichia coli by coupling fluorescent microscopic observation and dynamic permeability measurements in microfluidic filters. Pure particles filtration leads to arches and deposit formation in the upstream side of the microfilter while pure bacteria form streamers in the downstream zone. When mixing particle and bacteria, an unexpected phenomenon occurs: the clogging dynamics is significantly delayed. This phenomenon is related to apparent “slippery” interactions between the particles and the bacteria. These interactions limit the arches formation at the channels entrances and favour the formation of dendritic structures on the pillars between the channels. When these dendrites are eroded by the flow, fragments of the deposit are dragged towards the channels entrances. However, these bacteria/particles clusters being lubricated by the slippery interactions are deformed and stretched by the shear thus facilitating their passage through the microchannels.
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