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Groundwater contamination by organic pollutants, such as non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL), poses significant environmental and health risks. These contaminants, often released from industrial activities, can persist in the subsurface environment, forming residual pools that are difficult to remediate.

Understanding how the microscopic structure of porous media influences contaminant behavior is crucial for developing effective remediation strategies. Based on these challenges, there is a need to explore the impact of microstructure on DNAPL migration and develop methods to improve remediation efficiency.

A new study, conducted by researchers from Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control, was published on August 30, 2024, in the journal Eco-Environment & Health. The team developed fractal models to examine how 3D microstructures of porous media affect DNAPL migration and remediation by surfactant-enhanced aquifer remediation (SEAR).

They used a synthetic aquifer model and numerical simulations to compare contaminant transport and remediation efficiency in two types of microstructures: regular tetrahedron (RTM) and right square pyramid (RSPM).

The study found that the 3D microstructure of porous media significantly influences DNAPL migration and remediation efficiency. In aquifers with the right square pyramid microstructure (RSPM), DNAPL migrated faster and spread more widely due to higher permeability compared to the regular tetrahedron microstructure (RTM).

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