Subsurface Flow and Transport

Additional Information

EMSL users can employ subsurface flow and transport capabilities to study chemical reactions in heterogeneous natural materials with an emphasis on soil and subsurface systems. EMSL's approach to subsurface flow and transport studies is holistic, integrating flow cells, analytical tools, tomographic imaging, and predictive modeling capabilities to study subsurface phenomena. Topics of interest include:

Pore- and intermediate-scale reactive transport studies, including fluid mixing, precipitation and dissolution, and multiphase fluid displacement
Pore-scale displacement studies of supercritical CO₂
Transport of environmental contaminants, including metals, radionuclides, and chemicals.

Photo of researchers with subsurface flow and transport instruments

A variety of flow cells is available to EMSL users, including: column, batch, radial, wedge, and rectangular. Micromodels with desired pore structures can be fabricated from various substrates to study flow and reactive processes at the pore scale. Flow cells are used in coordination with high-precision, high-sensitivity analytical tools to generate data about sample characteristics by detecting the presence of carbon, trace metals, ions, nonvolatile compounds, thermally labile chemicals, and more. Pore structures and other heterogeneities in natural materials can be imaged using EMSL's X-ray computed tomography instrument. EMSL users also can design experiments using the predictive subsurface flow and transport simulator, STOMP (Subsurface Transport Over Multiple Phases). Data derived from experiments using EMSL's subsurface flow and transport capabilities are used to further refine STOMP, continually increasing its precision.

Capability Detail

For more information, refer to the "Capabilities" table that links to detailed information about each of EMSL's subsurface flow and transport instruments, as well as the appropriate contact(s). Brief details about primary subsurface flow and transport tools available to EMSL users include:

Column, batch, radial, and rectangular flow cells with optical, chemical, and dual-energy gamma radiation analysis capabilities
Microfluidic devices that incorporate user-defined pore structures and include fluorescent and Raman detection of chemical species under flow or pressure conditions
Analytical tools, including ion and liquid chromatographs, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, and carbon analysis tools
X-ray computed tomography to study pore structure in materials.

Predictive models of environmental reaction kinetics made more accurate, scalable (Scaled up)
Scientists gain first quantitative insights into electron transfer from minerals to microbes (Tunable transfer)
EMSL’s Chinook provides a new angle for validating pore-scale flow simulations (Go with the flow)
Micromodels redefine how bubbles characterize CO₂ gas flow (Breaking down the bubbly)
New finding shows a research area to expand in EMSL Radiochemistry Annex (Promising Science for Plutonium Cleanup )