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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Davis, California » Sustainable Agricultural Water Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #416867
Research Project: Improved Agroecosystem Efficiency and Sustainability in a Changing Environment

Location: Sustainable Agricultural Water Systems Research

Title: Multi-scale pore network approaches for predicting collector efficiency of colloids across a wide density range in soil hydrologic systems

Author
item LIN, DANTONG - Lanzhou University
item Bradford, Scott
item CAO, YAZHOU - Tsinghua University
item TANG, MINPENG - Tsinghua University
item ZHANG, BAOQING - Lanzhou University
item HU, LIMING - Tsinghua University

Submitted to: Advances in Water Resources
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/26/2026
Publication Date: 5/27/2026
Citation: Lin, D., Bradford, S.A., Cao, Y., Tang, M., Zhang, B., Hu, L. 2026. Multi-scale pore network approaches for predicting collector efficiency of colloids across a wide density range in soil hydrologic systems. Advances in Water Resources. 214. Article 105364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2026.105364.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2026.105364

Interpretive Summary: Clogging diminishes water flow in porous media (such as soils and aquifers) and hampers the performance of industrial and environmental applications, such as managed aquifer recharge. A pore network model was used to systematically explore the influence of colloid retention processes on clogging. Results show a complex interaction of colloid attachment (removal on pore surfaces), blocking (filling of surface sites), and straining (removal in pore throats) on clogging. Clogging is mainly caused by straining, but attachment can enhance straining by diminishing the size of the pore throat. However, blocking can reduce these effects of attachment. This information will be of interest to scientists, engineers, industry, and water managers concerned with maintaining water flow in porous media.

Technical Abstract: Clogging of porous media due to colloid transport and retention is a prevalent issue in various engineering applications such as groundwater recharge and oil and gas production. Despite the reported failures attributed to clogging, the pore-scale mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, particularly when coupled with colloid retention mechanisms like attachment, blocking, and straining remain incompletely understood. This paper addresses this gap by presenting a comprehensive investigation into the effects of clogging resulting from colloid retention using a pore network model. Through numerical simulations, we elucidate the intricate interplay between attachment, blocking, straining, and clogging on breakthrough curves, retention profiles, and water flux and pressure changes. Our findings demonstrate that clogging significantly alters breakthrough curve patterns, particularly for larger colloids subject to straining, with a discernible connection to blocking. Furthermore, we highlight the pivotal role of boundary conditions, such as constant water flux or pressure conditions, in shaping breakthrough patterns, with implications for both laboratory and field studies. Additionally, we observe that the coupled impact of clogging and colloid retention influences retention profiles, occasionally resulting in non-monotonic profiles. Overall, this study sheds light on the complex dynamics of clogging in porous media and emphasizes the necessity of considering multiple factors to comprehend its effects on colloid transport.