Progressive colloidal clogging mechanism by dendritic build-up in porous media.

ABSTRACT: Colloidal transport in porous media governs deposition and clogging mechanisms that critically influence flow behavior and impact the efficiency of both natural and industrial systems. However, the role of dendritic structures, a distinct deposition morphology, in this process remains unclear. Understanding the formation and growth of dendrites is essential for advancing clogging dynamics and assessing their impact on permeability. To address this, we perform microfluidic flow experiments and computational fluid analysis to observe and characterize dendrite formation in a heterogeneous tortuous porous domain. Our results reveal a novel clogging mechanism - dendrite clogging - where a single deposition site initiates a structure that extends across the pore space, bridging grains and causin

SUBMITTER: Okaybi W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12369462 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature