InterPore2026

Anomalous particle retention in “clean” water with catastrophic clogging consequences in porous media

20 May 2026, 12:35

15m

Oral Presentation (MS02) Environmental Porous Media: Water, Agriculture, and Remediation MS02

Speaker

Xukang Lu (Tsinghua University)

Description

Dynamics and interactions of particles and particle-like matter in porous media are crucial to diverse contexts from natural and industrial processes to biological phenomena. Yet, attempts to understand particle transport have largely focused on idealized colloidal dynamics considering otherwise pure colloid–fluid–surface interactions. Meanwhile, transport of particle-like matter in complex systems often exhibits patterns distinct from classical colloidal retention, such as the filamentous flow-shaped streamer structures in biofilm systems with rich extracellular substances. In this study, motivated by an unexpected observation of “anomalous” particle retention with highly purified water, we show that even trace levels of impurities, here macromolecules, in nominally clean water can profoundly reshape particle behavior and induce significant clogging in confined flow systems. The rapid particle accumulation in the form of streamers deviates from classical colloidal interactions, indicating the role of barely detectable, surface-active substances that accumulate on obstacle surfaces in the flow. The origin of particle trapping is established by introducing various additives into strictly clean water in a controlled manner. We identify the quantitative criteria for the formation and stabilization of streamer structures across varying geometric and flow conditions, and demonstrate the significance of both fluid shear and adhesion kinetics. We further show that subtle differences in water quality can cause catastrophic clogging in complex media, and propose strategies for mitigation of particle retention. Our findings not only provide a new perspective on particle retention across a wide range of materials-handling scenarios, but also advance understanding of streamer formation mechanisms as concerned in biofilm systems, with broad implications for contaminant detection and water quality assessment.