Pore cross-talk in colloidal filtration

TL;DR

This study investigates how pore clogging in filtration processes is interconnected, revealing that clogged pores influence the clogging rate of neighboring pores through diffusive particle redistribution, supported by experimental and phenomenological modeling.

Contribution

It demonstrates the existence of pore cross-talk in filtration, introducing a phenomenological model to explain particle redistribution effects between pores.

Findings

Clogging rate increases with the number of saturated pores.

Pore cross-talk is mediated by diffusive particle redistribution.

A one-dimensional model explains the observed interactions.

Abstract

Blockage of pores by particles is found in many processes, including filtration and oil extraction. We present filtration experiments through a linear array of ten channels with one dimension which is sub-micron, through which a dilute dispersion of Brownian polystyrene spheres flows under the action of a fixed pressure drop. The growth rate of a clog formed by particles at a pore entrance systematically increases with the number of already saturated (entirely clogged) pores, indicating that there is an interaction or "cross-talk" between the pores. This observation is interpreted based on a phenomenological model, stating that a diffusive redistribution of particles occurs along the membrane, from clogged to free pores. This one-dimensional model could be extended to two-dimensional membranes.