Groundwater for Sustainable Development 8 (2019) 381–389

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Groundwater for Sustainable Development

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Influence of colloid and adsorption parameters on contaminant transport in T

fractured rocks - A triple continuum model
Vinish V. Nair
Department of Civil Engineering, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, Kottayam, Kerala 676501, India

A R T I C LE I N FO A B S T R A C T

Keywords: Contaminant transport in fractured formations is strongly affected by the presence of fracture skin in the rock
Colloid matrix. A triple continuum solute transport model is developed, incorporating the fracture skin as the third
Contaminant transport continuum, besides the fracture and the rock matrix, to describe the colloid facilitated contaminant transport in
Fracture skin fractured formations. Sorption of the contaminant onto suspended and deposited colloids is assumed to follow a
Numerical model
modified Freundlich reversible equilibrium isotherm. The resulting set of governing partial differential equations
Freundlich isotherm
is solved using a fully implicit finite difference method. The distribution coefficient for contaminant sorption
onto the deposited colloids and isotherm fitting parameter for contaminant sorption onto the deposited colloids
are shown to be the most critical colloid related parameter affecting the contaminant transport in fractured
media in presence of colloids. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that contaminant migration in fractured media is
greatly affected by the presence of previously deposited colloids on fracture surfaces.

1. Introduction of modelling of colloid-facilitated contaminant transport in the vadose

In recent years, colloid facilitated contaminant transport has re-
ceived considerable attention because of the potential impact of col-
loids in facilitating radioactive waste migration from subsurface re-
positories. For instance, the migration of Plutonium over a distance of
kilometres far from Nevada Test site area was attributed to colloid fa-
cilitated transport (Buddemeier and Hunt, 1988; Kersting et al., 1999).
Radionuclide analyses for detonation cavity samples from the site in-
dicated that substantial fractions of selected nuclides are associated
with natural clay, zeolite, and cristobalite colloids (Kersting et al.,
1999). Contaminants can migrate in subsurface not only as dissolved
species in the liquid phase, but also in suspended form when adsorbed
onto colloidal particles (Champ and Schroeter, 1988; Toran and
Palumbo, 1992; Hinsby et al., 1996; Vilks et al., 1996; Pang and Close,
1999; Vilks and Baik, 2001). Many colloid-facilitated contaminant
transport models have been developed in recent years and it has been
shown that depending on system conditions, the presence of colloids in
the subsurface may either enhance or retard contaminant transport
(e.g., Grindrod, 1993; Smith and Degueldre, 1993; Abdel Salam and
Chrysikopoulos, 1995; Ibaraki and Sudicky, 1995; Baek and Pitt, 1996;
Cvetkovic, 2000).
Dual continuum models, with fracture and rock matrix as two
continuums, are usually employed for modelling contaminant transport
in fractured formations. Flury and Qiu (2008) made an extensive review
zone. Smith and Degueldre (1993) developed a model describing the
transport of a radioactive material in the presence of colloids in a single
fracture. Baek and Pitt (1996) showed that the equilibrium distribution
coefficient between a contaminant and the colloid and the size of col-
loids are the critical parameters of colloid-facilitated radionuclide
transport. But at two separate sites at Los Alamos, New Mexico, plu-
tonium and americium were detected at much greater distances from
the source than predicted by conventional dual porosity transport
models (Corapcioglu and Jiang, 1993). James et al. (2005) demon-
strated that contaminant transport is enhanced in the presence of col-
loids while matrix diffusion and sorption retards the movement of
contaminant in fractured formations.
Recent investigations have reported that the rock layer near the
fracture surface of many open fractures have been altered by pre-
cipitation and deposition of mineral, organic and inorganic matters
(Robinson et al., 1998; Kreisel and Sharp, 1996). These alterations,
referred to as the fracture skin, can have different diffusion and sorption
properties compared to those of the undisturbed rock matrix and this
may influence the transport through the formations. Fracture skins are
ubiquitous in nature and are especially noticeable in fractured forma-
tions or doubly porous rocks where there is an interchange of fluids and
solutes between the fractures and the matrix (Robinson et al., 1998).
This interchange causes precipitation, typically, of iron and manganese
oxides (Fu et al., 1994) or calcite (Antonellini and Aydin, 1994; Kreisel

E-mail address: vinish@rit.ac.in.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2018.12.006
Received 21 November 2017; Received in revised form 25 September 2018; Accepted 31 December 2018
Available online 02 January 2019
2352-801X/ © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
V.V. Nair Groundwater for Sustainable Development 8 (2019) 381–389

and Sharp, 1996) and may dramatically alter the transport properties of
the fractured formations. Whelan et al. (2002) have reported that cal-
cite and silica form coatings on fracture footwalls and cavity floors in
the welded tuffs at Yucca Mountain, the potential site of a high-level
radioactive waste repository. Presence of a fracture skin adds more
complexity to the problem of transport through fractured formations
(National Research Council, 2000).
The rock matrix with fracture skin of different transport properties
necessitates a third continuum -fracture skin- in the modelling of con-
taminant transport through fractured formations. Robinson et al.
(1998) reported an analytical solution for the problem of contaminant
transport in a finite set of parallel fractures with fracture skin.
Zimmerman et al. (2002) analysed the effect of sorption of organic
solutes on altered fracture surfaces using an experimental fracture-flow
apparatus. Based on the analytical model developed, Garner et al.
(2007) examined the most critical fracture skin properties that affect
solute transport in a fractured media. Nair and Thampi (2010) devel-
oped a numerical model to analyze the colloid transport in fractured
rock with fracture skin using a triple continuum approach. Fracture skin
porosity, fracture skin diffusion coefficient, and distribution coefficient
for contaminant sorption onto the suspended colloids are demonstrated
to be the most significant parameters influencing contaminant migra-
tion in fractured formation with fracture skin (Nair and Thampi, 2011).
Fig. 1. Idealised fracture-skin-matrix system.
In the above work, sorption of the contaminant onto the fracture sur-
faces and onto suspended and deposited colloids were assumed to
follow the linear equilibrium assumption (LEA). Furthermore, colloids made regarding geometry and hydraulic properties (Tang et al., 1981).
are assumed to be not able to penetrate the rock formation in the work.
The possibility of colloids diffusing into the rock matrix cannot be (1) The length of the fracture is much larger than its width.
eliminated since the size of these particles ranges between 1 nm and (2) Transverse diffusion and dispersion within the fracture ensure
1 µm and the size of microfissures in the rock matrices ranges between complete mixing across fracture width at all times.
0.01 and 10 µm (Birgersson and Neretnieks, 1982). Colloid transport (3) Permeability of the fracture skin and the matrix is very low and the
models, which assume that the colloids are confined to fractures, may transport within the skin and the matrix occurs mainly by effective
often lead to an overestimation of the colloid concentrations along the molecular diffusion.
fracture. Hence, development of colloid facilitated transport models (4) Transport along the fracture is much faster than transport within
incorporating the process of colloid penetration into the formation will the fracture skin and the matrix.
be useful in predicting contaminant migration in fractured media, in
situations where colloids penetrate the matrix. Till date, no numerical Assumptions 1 and 2 provide the basis for a one-dimensional ana-
models have been developed to study the colloid facilitated con- lysis of mass transport along the fracture. Assumptions 3 and 4 provide
taminant transport in fractured formations with fracture skin, with the basis for taking the direction of mass flux in the reservoir to be
colloid penetration into the rock formation. perpendicular to the fracture axis. The result is the simplification of the
The present paper deals with the development of a triple continuum two-dimensional system into coupled orthogonal one-dimensional sys-
transport model for the analysis of colloid facilitated contaminant mi- tems.
gration in fractured rocks. The main objective of this work is to derive The physical and chemical processes relevant to colloid-facilitated
solutions for one-dimensional macroscopic colloid facilitated con- transport of contaminant are listed below:
taminant transport in sets of parallel fractures with fracture skin ac-
counting for reversible contaminant deposition onto fracture skin sur- 1. advection and dispersion of dissolved contaminant in the fracture;
faces, contaminant penetration into the rock formation, reversible 2. solute-rock interaction, including diffusion into and sorption onto
contaminant deposition onto rock matrix surfaces, colloid deposition fracture skin and matrix and sorption on fracture surfaces by dis-
onto fracture skin surfaces and colloid penetration into the rock for- solved solute; and
mation. Sorption of the contaminant onto suspended and deposited 3. radioactive decay of solute;
colloids is assumed to follow a modified Freundlich reversible equili- 4. solute-suspended/deposited colloid interaction, with sorption of
brium isotherm, proposed by Summers and Roberts (1988), and dissolved contaminant on suspended/deposited colloids.
McKinley and Jenne (1991). The system of equations is solved using a 5. advection and dispersion of contaminant sorbed on suspended col-
fully implicit finite difference numerical scheme. Sensitivity analyses loids; and
are performed to investigate the impact of various model parameters on 6. advection and dispersion of colloid and colloid-fracture surface in-
the spatial evolution of the contaminant in the fractured formation. It teraction including sorption of colloids on fracture surface.
should be noted that because of the relatively large number of variables Contaminant transport processes in the fracture-skin-matrix system
associated with colloid and contaminant cotransport, only the most can be described by coupled one-dimensional equations, coupling
important and controlling parameters are investigated. being provided by the continuity of fluxes and concentrations at the
interface. The governing equation of colloid facilitated contaminant
2. The physical system transport in the fracture is derived based on the mass balance for an
element in the fracture and the equation is
This study considers sets of parallel fractures of infinite extent of
width, 2B, which is situated in a water-saturated rock formation. The
conceptualization of the fracture-skin- matrix system is shown in Fig. 1.
In deriving the governing equations, the following assumptions are

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∂⎡ ⎛ ⎞ (1 − ε ) ⎛ ⎞ suspended colloids; and a is the isotherm fitting parameter.

Cf ⎜t , z ⎟ + C f* ⎜t , z ⎟ + Ccol ⎛⎜t , z ⎞⎟ s ⎛⎜t , z ⎞⎟ Also contaminant sorption on to deposited colloids is given by
∂t ⎢ ⎝ ⎠ B ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠
⎣
⎛ ⎞ Cf (t , z ) ⎤d
+
1
* ⎛⎜t , z ⎞⎟ s * ⎛⎜t , z ⎞⎟ ⎤
Ccol s * ⎜t , z ⎟ = K n* ⎡
⎢ Ccol ⎥
B ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠⎦
⎥
⎝ ⎠ ⎣ * (t , z ) ⎦ (4)
∂ 2 ∂
= D 2 [Cf (t , z ) + Ccol (t , z ) s (t , z )] − v [Cf (t , z ) + Ccol (t , z ) s (t , z )] where K n* is the distribution coefficient for contaminant sorption on to
∂z ∂z deposited colloids; and d is the isotherm fitting parameter.
(1 − ε ) ∂C (t , z ) Substituting Eqs. (2)–(4) into Eq. (1) yields the following equation
+ ϕs Ds s
B ∂x x=B
for contaminant transport in a fracture

⎡ (1 − ε ) ⎛ ⎞ Cf ⎞a − 1 d−1
− λ ⎢Cf ⎛⎜t , z ⎞⎟ + C f* ⎜t , z ⎟ + Ccol ⎛⎜t , z ⎞⎟ s ⎛⎜t , z ⎞⎟ ∂Cf ⎡
1+
(1 − ε ) Kf
+ aKn ⎛ +
dK n* ⎛ Cf ⎞ ⎤
B ∂t ⎢ B
⎜ ⎜⎟

* ⎠ ⎥
⎟
⎣ ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠
⎣ ⎝ Ccol ⎠ B ⎝ Ccol
⎦
1 ∂2Cf ⎡ ⎛ Cf ⎞a − 1
+ * ⎛⎜t , z ⎞⎟ s * ⎛⎜t , z ⎞⎟ ⎤
Ccol 1 ⎤
B ⎥ = aKn D 2 ⎢ ⎜ + ⎟

⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠⎦ ∂z ⎣ ⎝ Ccol ⎠ aKn ⎥ ⎦
(1) ∂Cf ⎧ ⎛ Cf ⎞a − 1 ⎡ 2(1 − a) D ∂Ccol a−2
(a − 1) D ⎛ Cf ⎞ ∂Cf
−3
+ aKn ⎜ ⎟ − v⎤ + ⎜ ⎟

where Cf is the contaminant concentration in the fracture (M L ); C f* is ∂z ⎨ ⎢ ⎥

⎩ ⎝ Ccol ⎠ ⎣ Ccol ∂z ⎦ Ccol ⎝ Ccol ⎠ ∂z
the contaminant concentration adsorbed on to fracture surfaces, ex-
pressed as mass of contaminant per unit area of fracture surface (M v ⎫
−
L−2); Ccol is the concentration of colloids suspended in the liquid phase aKn ⎬
⎭
(M L−3); Ccol
* is the concentration of colloids deposited on to fracture Cf ⎞a ⎡ ∂Ccol ∂C ∂2Ccol aD ⎛ ∂Ccol ⎞2 ⎤
⎛ ⎞
surfaces, expressed as mass of colloids per unit area of the fracture + ⎜a − 1⎟ Kn ⎛ ⎜ ⎟ + v col − D +
C ⎢ ∂t ∂z ∂z 2 Ccol ⎝ ∂z ⎠ ⎥
surface (M L−2); s is the contaminant concentration adsorbed on to ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ col ⎠ ⎣ ⎦
d
suspended colloids in the liquid phase, expressed as mass of con- (1 − d ) K n* ⎛ Cf ⎞ ∂Ccol *
−
taminant per mass of colloids (M M−1); s* is the contaminant con-
⎜ ⎟
B * ⎠ ∂t
⎝ Ccol
centration adsorbed on to deposited colloids, expressed as mass of
(1 − ε ) ϕs Ds ∂Cs (1 − ε ) Kf ⎤ K * Cf ⎞d
contaminant per mass of deposited colloids (M M−1); 2B is the fracture +
⎧
− λ Cf ⎡1 + * ⎛⎜
+ n Ccol ⎟

aperture (L); ε is the fraction of the fracture surface covered by colloids; B ∂x ⎨ ⎢ B ⎥ B * ⎠

⎝ Ccol
x=B ⎩ ⎣ ⎦
D is the hydrodynamic dispersion coefficient (L2 T−1); v is the average
Cf ⎞a⎫
interstitial velocity (L T−1); λ is a first-order radioactive decay coeffi- + Kn Ccol ⎛ ⎜ ⎟

cient (T−1); ϕs is the fracture skin porosity; Ds is the effective diffusion ⎝ Ccol ⎠ ⎬
⎭
coefficient of fracture skin (L2 T−1); Cs is the contaminant concentra- (5)
tion in the fracture skin (M L−3); t is time; z is the distance along the
The governing transport equation in the fracture skin is derived
fracture axis; and x is the distance perpendicular to the fracture axis.
based on the mass balance for an element in the fracture skin and the
We assume that contaminant sorption on to a colloidal particle does
equation is
not alter its hydrodynamic and deposition mechanisms. The hydro-
dynamic dispersion coefficient of contaminants is the sum of mechan- ∂Cs (t , x , z ) D ∂2Cs (t , x , z )
= s − λCs ⎛⎜t , x , z ⎞⎟
ical dispersion coefficient and molecular diffusion coefficient while for ∂t Rs ∂x 2 (6)
⎝ ⎠
colloidal particles; it is the sum of mechanical dispersion coefficient and
Brownian diffusion coefficient of colloids. Generally, mechanical dis- where Rs is the retardation factor in the fracture skin.
persion dominates Brownian diffusion or molecular diffusion. The governing transport equation in the rock matrix is derived in a
Therefore, the same hydrodynamic dispersion coefficient equal to the similar way as
mechanical dispersion coefficient is used for both the contaminant and
∂Cm (t , x , z ) D ∂2Cm (t , x , z )
colloids. We also assume that the contaminant and colloids have the = m − λCm ⎛⎜t , x , z ⎞⎟
∂t Rm ∂x 2 ⎝ ⎠ (7)
same velocity as the aqueous phase flow velocity v.
A linear reversible equilibrium isotherm is assumed for contaminant −3
where Cm is the contaminant concentration in the rock matrix (M L );
sorption on to fracture surfaces, which is given by Dm is the effective diffusion coefficient of rock matrix (L2 T−1); and Rm
is the retardation factor in the rock matrix
C f* (t , z ) = Kf Cf (t , z ) (2) The initial and boundary conditions relevant to the contaminant
where Kf is the partition coefficient for contaminant sorption on to transport in the fracture-skin-matrix system are as follows:
fracture surfaces (L) and retardation coefficient Rf of fracture surface is Cf (0, z ) = Cs (0, x , z ) = Cm (0, x , z ) = 0 (8)
given by Rf = 1+ Kf /b. However, the amount of contaminant sorption
on to fracture surfaces is influenced by the available fracture surface- Cf (t , 0) = C0 (9a)
area for sorption, which is a function of the deposited colloid con-
∂Cf (t , 0)
centration. ε , the fracture surface area fraction, equal to zero represents −D + vCf ⎜⎛t , 0⎟⎞ = vC0
the case of no colloid deposition and ε equal to one represents the case ∂z ⎝ ⎠ (9b)
of a complete monolayer coverage of the fracture surface.
∂Cf (t , ∞)
A modified Freundlich reversible equilibrium isotherm, proposed by =0
Summers and Roberts (1988), and McKinley and Jenne (1991), is as- ∂z (10)
sumed for contaminant sorption on to colloids. It is given by Cs (t , B, z ) = Cf (t , z ) (11)
a
Cf (t , z ) ⎤ ∂Cs (t , d, z ) ∂Cm (t , d, z )
s ⎛⎜t , z ⎞⎟ = Kn ⎡ φs Ds = φm Dm
⎢
⎣ col (t , z ) ⎥
C ⎦ (3) ∂x ∂x (12)
⎝ ⎠

where Kn is the distribution coefficient for contaminant sorption on to Cm (t , d, z ) = Cs (t , d, z ) (13)

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V.V. Nair Groundwater for Sustainable Development 8 (2019) 381–389

∂Cm (t , ∞, z ) Table 1
=0
∂x (14) Input data for the base case (Robinson et al., 1998).

The initial condition (8) implies that initially contaminant is absent Parameters Values
in the fracture-skin-matrix system. The boundary conditions (9a) and
v , average flow velocity in the fracture (m/d) 1.0
(9b) corresponds to inlet boundary condition and either (9a) which Df, dispersion coefficient in the fracture (m2/d) 0.001
represents the case of constant concentration boundary condition or Ds, diffusion coefficient of skin (m2/d) 4 × 10 −7
(9b) which represents constant flux boundary condition is employed at Dm, diffusion coefficient of matrix (m2/d) 4 × 10−6
a time. The boundary condition (10) preserves concentration continuity ϕs , porosity of skin 0.035
ϕm , porosity of matrix 0.145
for the fracture outlet. The boundary condition (11) implies equal so-
L, length of fracture (m) 100
lute concentration in the fracture and fracture skin at the interface
2B, fracture aperture (m) 0.0004
between them; while (12) implies diffusive mass flux continuity at the (d-B), skin thickness (m) 0.0018
interface between fracture skin and rock matrix. The boundary condi- Rf, retardation coefficient of fracture surface 6
tion (13) corresponds to concentration of contaminants at the interface Rs, retardation coefficient of skin 673
Rm, retardation coefficient of matrix 141
between fracture skin and rock matrix. The boundary condition (14)
λ, coefficient of radioactive decay (d−1) 6.33 × 10−5
preserves concentration continuity in the rock matrix. 2H, fracture spacing (m) 0.31
The governing differential equation of colloid transport in the
fracture, the skin and the matrix are based on the mass balance for an
element in the fracture, the skin and the matrix respectively, assuming obtained by solving Eqs. (15)–(18) subject to the boundary conditions.
that colloids may be able to penetrate the formation. The computed value of concentration of colloids in the fracture is used
The equations governing the transport of colloids in the fracture, the in solving Eq. (5) and the resulting system of nonlinear algebraic
skin and the matrix are as follows: equations is solved by iterative methods. To satisfy the continuity of
Fracture: fluxes at the fracture–skin interface, the solution is iterated in each time
* ∂2Cfcol step. A smaller grid size at the fracture–skin interface helps in accu-
∂Cfcol 1 ∂C fcol ∂Cfcol ϕ ∂C
+ =D 2
−v + s Dscol scol rately simulating the concentration flux into the fracture skin. For
∂t B ∂t ∂z ∂z B ∂x (15)
x=B temporal simulations, the maximum Courant number is fixed as 0.2.
The colloid deposition based on filtration theory (Bowen and
Epstein, 1979) can be expressed as
4. Results and discussion
* (t , z )
∂Ccol kv
= Ccol ⎛⎜t , z ⎞⎟
∂t 2B ⎝ ⎠ (16) The one dimensional transport model is used to study the impact of
colloid on contaminant migration in fractured rocks. The numerical
where k is the surface deposition coefficient of colloids (L). model is validated with the analytical solutions (Robinson et al., 1998)
Skin: of simpler case of contaminant transport in sets of parallel fracture with
∂Cscol ∂2Cscol fracture skin, in absence of colloids, with the data given in Table 1. The
+ kscol Cscol = Dscol numerical model results are in good agreement with the analytical so-
∂t ∂x 2 (17)
lutions (Fig. 2).
Matrix:
The concentrations of solute along the fracture, fracture skin and
∂Cmcol ∂2Cmcol rock matrix at the end of 10 years have been calculated with the data
+ kmcol Cmcol = Dmcol
∂t ∂x 2 (18) presented in Table 2. The contaminant concentration along the fracture
is expressed in terms of the relative concentration (C/C0) and the
The initial and boundary conditions applicable for colloid transport
concentration profiles along the fracture are plotted. The top curve in
in the fracture are given below.
each profile corresponds to the concentration profile for the ‘no skin’
Ccol (0, z ) = 0 (19) scenario for the specified condition and other curve corresponds to the
‘with skin’ scenarios.
Ccol (t , 0) = Ccol0 (20a)
The contaminant concentration in the fractured media for a fracture
surface free of colloids and for a fracture surface completely covered by
∂Ccol (t , 0)
−D + vCcol ⎜⎛t , 0⎟⎞ = vCcol0 deposited colloids has been simulated. The resulting concentration
∂z ⎝ ⎠ (20b) profiles for different values of flow velocities are shown in Fig. 3 and
∂Ccol (t , ∞)
=0
∂z (21)
Eq. (19) implies that initially colloids are absent in the fracture-skin-
matrix system. Eq. (20a) corresponds to the case of constant con-
centration boundary condition at the inlet; while Eq. (20b) corresponds
to continuous constant flux boundary condition at the inlet. The
downstream boundary condition (21) preserves colloid concentration
continuity for the fracture.

3. Numerical method

The system of governing transport equations in the fracture-skin-

matrix system are solved using a finite difference model. A fully implicit
finite difference numerical scheme is employed for the discretisation of
transport equations in the fracture, fracture skin and rock matrix. The
resulting system of nonlinear algebraic equations is solved by iterative Fig. 2. Validation of numerical model results with analytical solutions of
methods. The concentration of colloids in the fractured formation is Robinson et al. (1998).

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Table 2 coverage of deposited colloids is found to be much higher than the

Data used for simulating the base case.
Parameters
v , average flow velocity in the fracture (m/year)
Df, dispersion coefficient in the fracture (m2/year)
Ds, diffusion coefficient of skin (m2/year)
Dm, diffusion coefficient of matrix (m2/year)
ϕs , porosity of skin
ϕm , porosity of matrix
B, half fracture aperture (m)
λ, coefficient of radioactive decay (d−1)
K f, fracture surface distribution coefficient (m)
Rs, retardation coefficient of skin
Rm, retardation coefficient of matrix
k, surface deposition coefficient of colloid (m)
K n (g g−1) 1-a
K n* (g g−1) 1-dm d
a 0.35
d 0.35
ρp , density of colloidal particle (g/m3)
Fig. 3. Concentration profiles along the fracture for different flow velocities for
a fracture surface free of colloids.
contaminant penetration along the fracture for a fracture surface free of
Values colloids. The result was expected as for monolayer coverage of de-
posited colloids, the chances of diffusion of contaminant through the
1.0 fracture skin to the matrix is minimal.
0.25
−5
Rate of contaminant diffusion into the rock and the rate of con-
1.359 × 10
1 × 10−6
taminant sorption onto fracture surfaces are greatly affected by the
0.011 presence of previously deposited colloids on fracture surfaces (surface
0.003 exclusion effect). The reduction in diffusion and sorption of con-
0.0000625 taminant is accounted in the model by adjusting the value of parameter
1 × 10−6 ε . The area blocked by a colloid particle is a function of colloid size and
1 × 10−4
1
the number of deposited particles per unit surface area of the fracture
1 surface.
1 × 10−10 The portion of a fracture surface area blocked by colloids, ε , is
2.5 evaluated (Chrysikopoulos and Abdel-Salam, 1997) as:
0.085
⎛ ⎞ * (t , z )
3 Ccol
ε ⎜t , z⎟ =
2 × 106 2 ρp dp
⎝ ⎠
where ρp is the density of colloidal particle and dp is the size of colloidal
particle. The value of ε thus obtained from the equation is substituted in
Eq. (5) to account for the influence of previously deposited colloids on
fracture surfaces on further contaminant migration and the resulting
concentration profiles along the fracture for different flow velocities are
shown in Fig. 5.
The significance of incorporating fracture skin in the modelling of
colloid facilitated contaminant transport is also illustrated in Fig. 5. The
results clearly demonstrate the effect fracture skin on colloid facilitated
contaminant migration in fractured media. It can be seen from the re-
sults that the analysis of fracture-matrix systems without considering
the fracture skin ie; the models based on dual continuum approach
show large variation with the solutions obtained using triple continuum
models. The plots indicate that the contaminant concentrations along
the fracture are lesser than that predicted by dual continuum models as
in the simulated case the diffusion coefficient of fracture skin is re-
ported to be more than that of the rock matrix. The results also high-
light the importance of surface exclusion effect on colloid facilitated
contaminant migration in fractured media.
Simulations are performed for cases with surface exclusion and
without surface exclusion and the corresponding results are also pre-
sented in the plots. Figs. 6 and 7 present the contaminant concentration
profiles along the fracture for different values of the distribution coef-
ficient for contaminant sorption onto the suspended colloids (K n) and
the distribution coefficient for contaminant sorption onto the deposited
colloids (K n*)respectively. An increase in the value of K n results in
increase in contaminant concentrations along the fracture whereas an
increase in the value of K n* leads to a decrease in the concentrations of

Fig. 4. Concentration profiles along the fracture for different flow velocities for
a fracture surface completely covered by deposited colloids.

Fig. 4 respectively. The contaminant concentration in the fracture with

fracture skin is essentially same as the contaminant concentration in the
fracture without considering the fracture skin, for a fracture surface
completely covered by deposited colloids. The contaminant
penetration along the fracture for a fracture surface with monolayer Fig. 5. Concentration profiles along the fracture for different flow velocities.

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Fig. 6. Influence of contaminant distribution coefficient with suspended colloids on colloid facilitated contaminant transport. a) without surface exclusion b) with
surface exclusion.

contaminant along the fracture. The influence of the distribution The influence of exponents a and d on colloid facilitated con-
coefficient for contaminant sorption onto the suspended colloids is taminant migration in fractured formations, with colloids penetrating
found to be less significant compared to the influence of the distribution the formation, are illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 respectively. Computa-
coefficient for contaminant sorption onto the deposited colloids. tions are performed for three different values of these exponents. Large

Fig. 7. Influence of contaminant distribution coefficient with deposited colloids on colloid facilitated contaminant transport. a) without surface exclusion b) with
surface exclusion.

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Fig. 8. Influence of isotherm fitting parameter a on colloid facilitated contaminant transport a) without surface exclusion b) with surface exclusion.

Fig. 9. Influence of isotherm fitting parameter d on colloid facilitated contaminant transport a) without surface exclusion b) with surface exclusion.

values of d results in considerable reduction in contaminant con-
centrations along the fracture.
Fig. 10 presents the results of computations performed for three
different values of colloid deposition coefficient. At very low colloid
deposition coefficient values, the contaminant concentrations along the
fracture are almost equal. However, significant changes in contaminant
concentrations are seen at large colloid deposition coefficients. More
pronounced changes are seen when the influence of previously de-
posited colloids are considered (Fig. 10b) at large values of the colloid
deposition coefficient.

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Fig. 10. Influence of colloid deposition coefficient on colloid facilitated contaminant transport a) without surface exclusion b) with surface exclusion.
5. Conclusions
A complex numerical model in a triple continuum framework in-
corporating fracture skin as the third continuum is developed to analyze
the colloid facilitated contaminant transport in sets of parallel fractures
with colloid penetration into the rock formation. The complex mass
transfer between the different interfaces is accurately modelled in the
present model. The set of coupled partial differential equations of solute
transport in the fracture-skin-matrix system is solved using a fully im-
plicit finite difference model. A series of numerical simulations was
carried out to analyze the effect of fracture skin on contaminant
transport in the fractured system in presence of colloids.
Model results with fracture skin and without fracture skin condi-
tions clearly demonstrates the importance of incorporating fracture skin
as the third continuum in the analysis of colloid facilitated contaminant
transport in fractured media. Contaminant migration in fractured
media is shown to be greatly affected by the presence of previously
deposited colloids on fracture surfaces. Parametric investigations have
showed that distribution coefficient for contaminant sorption onto the
deposited colloids and isotherm fitting parameter for contaminant
sorption onto the deposited colloids are the most significant colloid
related parameter affecting the contaminant transport in fractured
media, if the sorption of the contaminant onto suspended and deposited
colloids is governed by a modified Freundlich reversible equilibrium
isotherm.
The model results are useful in characterization studies of colloid
facilitated solute transport in fractured formations with fracture skin
and have implications on the management and remediation of
groundwater quality.
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