A nonlinear random walk approach to concentration-dependent contaminant transport in porous media

Abstract

We propose a nonlinear random walk model to describe the dynamics of dense contaminant plumes in porous media. A coupling between concentration and velocity fields is found, so that transport displays non-Fickian features. The qualitative behavior of the pollutant spatial profiles and moments is explored with the help of Monte Carlo simulation, within a Continuous Time Random Walk approach. Model outcomes are then compared with experimental measurements of variable-density contaminant transport in homogeneous and saturated vertical columns.

8 pages, 9 figures

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Cited by in corpus (5)

• Distributed order Hausdorff derivative diffusion model to characterize non-Fickian diffusion in porous media
• Heterogeneous continuous time random walks
• A continuous time random walk model of transport in variably saturated heterogeneous porous media
• Mass transport subject to time-dependent flow with non-uniform sorption in porous media
• Spatial and temporal features of dense contaminant transport: experimental investigation and numerical modeling