Elsevier

Advances in Agronomy

Volume 66, 1999, Pages 121-193
Advances in Agronomy

Mobile Subsurface Colloids and Their Role in Contaminant Transport

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2113(08)60427-7Get rights and content

Publisher Summary

It is noted that colloidal particles can be effectively transported through subsurface porous media under certain hydrogeochemical conditions. If present in large concentrations, mobile colloids can act as carriers for strongly sorbing contaminants and thereby provide an unretarded transport pathway for contaminants that are otherwise strongly retarded. This potential transport pathway can be considered in risk assessments of sites heavily contaminated with toxic chemicals, such as certain radionuclides, heavy metals, and hydrophobic organic compounds. The chapter reviews the current state of knowledge about the behavior of colloids in porous media and their role in contaminant transport. The chapter also identifies some important future research needs. Colloids are commonly defined as small particles or other entities with dimensions roughly between 1 nm and 1 μm. These size limits to dissolved molecules on one side and to larger suspended particles on the other side. Colloidal particles remain stable in suspension over long time periods, unless they coagulate to form larger aggregates or deposit onto surfaces of larger grains.

References (269)

  • B. Dahneke

    Resuspension of particles

    J. Coll. Interface Sci.

    (1975)
  • S.K. Das et al.

    The role of surface roughness and contact deformation on the hydrodynamic detachment of particles from surfaces

    J. Coll. Interface Sci.

    (1994)
  • C. Degueldre et al.

    Colloids in water from a subsurface fracture in granitic rock, Grimsel Test Site, Switzerland

    Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta

    (1989)
  • C. Degueldre et al.

    Colloid properties in granitic groundwater systems. II. Stability and transport study

    Appl. Geochem.

    (1996)
  • C. Degueldre et al.

    Colloid properties in granitic groundwater systems. I. Sampling and characterisation

    Appl. Geochem.

    (1996)
  • J.G. DosRamos et al.

    The determination of particle size distribution of submicrometer particles by capillary hydrodynamic fractionation (CHDF)

    J. Coll. Interface Sci.

    (1990)
  • M. Elimelech

    Kinetics of capture of colloidal particles in packed beds under attractive double layer interactions

    J. Coll. Interface Sci.

    (1991)
  • M. Elimelech

    Predicting collision efficiencies of colloidal particles in porous media

    Water Resources

    (1992)
  • M.H. Fauré et al.

    Transport of clay particles and radioelements in a salinity gradient: Experiments and simulations

    J. Contamin. Hydrol.

    (1996)
  • J.A. Fitzpatrick et al.

    Filtration of aqueous latex suspensions through beds of glass spheres

    J. Coll. Interface Sci.

    (1973)
  • L.C. Goldenberg et al.

    Changes in hydraulic conductivity of laboratory sand-clay mixtures caused by a seawater-freshwater interface

    J. Hydrol.

    (1984)
  • P. Grindrod

    The impact of colloids on the migration and dispersal of radionuclides within fractured rock

    J. Contamin. Hydrol.

    (1993)
  • P. Grindrod et al.

    Colloid migration in symmetrical non-uniform fractures: Particle tracking in three dimensions

    J. Contamin. Hydrol.

    (1997)
  • GschwendP.M. et al.

    Mobilization of colloids in groundwater due to infiltration of water at a coal ash disposal site

    J. Contamin. Hydrol.

    (1990)
  • P.M. Gschwend et al.

    Monodisperse ferrous phosphate colloids in an anoxic groundwater plume

    J. Contamin. Hydrol.

    (1987)
  • B. Gu et al.

    Competitive adsorption, displacement, and transport of organic matter on iron oxide. II. Displacement and transport

    Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta

    (1996)
  • J.J.W. Higgo et al.

    Colloid transport in a glacial sand aquifer. Laboratory and field studies

    Coll. Surf. A

    (1993)
  • C.H. Ho et al.

    Effect of humic acid on uranium uptake by hematite particles

    J. Coll. Interface Sci.

    (1985)
  • C.H. Ho et al.

    Formation of uranium oxide sols in bicarbonate solutions

    J. Coll. Interface Sci.

    (1986)
  • F. Huysman et al.

    Water-facilitated transport of bacteria in unsaturated soil columns: Influence of cell surface hydrophobicity and soil properties

    Soil. Biol. Biochem.

    (1993)
  • T. Allen
  • A. Amirbahman et al.

    Transport of humic-matter coated hematite in packed beds

    Environ. Sci. Technol.

    (1993)
  • A. Amoozegar et al.

    Evaluation of saprolite for on-site wastewater disposal.

    (1993)
  • C. Amrhein et al.

    Colloid-assisted transport of trace metals in roadside soils receiving deicing salts

    Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.

    (1993)
  • C.A.J. Appelo et al.

    Geochemistry, Groundwater and Pollution

    (1994)
  • D.A. Backhus et al.

    Sampling colloids and colloid-associated contaminants in ground water

    Ground Water

    (1993)
  • T.M. Ballard

    Role of humic carrier substances in DDT movement through forest soils

    Soil Sci. Soc. Am Proc.

    (1971)
  • J.K. Bates et al.

    Colloid formation during waste form reaction: Implications for nuclear waste disposal

    Science

    (1992)
  • H. Behrens et al.

    Aggregation in charge-stabilized colloidal suspensions revisited

    Langmuir

    (1998)
  • G. Bengtsson et al.

    Transport of soil bacteria controlled by density-dependent sorption kinetics

    Water Resources Res.

    (1995)
  • A.R. Bertrand et al.

    The effects of rainfall intensity on soil structure and migration of colloidal materials in soils

    Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc.

    (1962)
  • K. Beven et al.

    Macropores and water flow in soils

    Water Resources Res.

    (1982)
  • W.J.P. Bosma et al.

    Linear equilibrium adsorbing solute transport in physically and chemically heterogeneous porous formations. 1. numerical results

    Water Resources Res.

    (1993)
  • R. Brewer

    Cutans: Their definition, recognition, and interpretation

    J. Soil Sci.

    (1960)
  • J. Buffle et al.

    Characterization of aquatic colloids and macromolecules. 1. Structure and behavior of colloidal material

    Environ. Sci. Technol.

    (1995)
  • J. Buffle et al.

    Characterization of aquatic colloids and macromolecules. 2. Key role of physical structures on analytical results

    Environ. Sci. Technol.

    (1995)
  • S.W. Buol et al.

    Clay skin genesis in Wisconsin soils

    Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc.

    (1961)
  • S.W. Buol et al.

    Some characateristics of clay skins on peds in the B horizon of a gray-brown podzolic soil

    Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc.

    (1959)
  • N.C. Brady

    The Nature and Properties of Soils

    (1984)
  • M.L. Brusseau

    Transport of reactive contaminants in heterogeneous porous media

    Rev. Geo-phys.

    (1994)
  • Cited by (578)

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text