| Abstract: | The effect of heterogeneity on solute transport in porous media is examined by means of physical experiments and controlled numerical simulations. The special cases of layered, clogged and aggregated porous media are particularly investigated. The breakthrough curves (BTCs) obtained from some sections of the physical models are extremely distorted with extended concentration tails. These tailings are caused by different trajectories of the tracer through fine (millimeter and centimeter) scale spatial heterogeneities. On the other hand, BTCs in sections of the physical models having no heterogeneous nature, showed classical ‘S’-shape. A computer simulation based on an improved capacitance model was used to match the experimental data. The BTCs can be represented adequately by the model. However, it seems necessary to determine the fitting parameters experimentally in order to relate them to actual physical phenomena. |
