CONVECTION, DISPERSION, AND ADSORPTION OF SURFACTANTS IN POROUS-MEDIA

Using the theory of volume averaging, it is shown that molecular diffusion, mass tortuosity, and mechanical mixing contribute to the mass-dispersion coefficient. The dynamics of adsorption and the effect of dead-space volume are considered for the single-phase transport of surfactant through fired Berea. A new dynamic adsorption model is developed which considers both mass transfer to the fluid/solid surface and a kinetic surface-adsorption mechanism. Both kinetic adsorption and mass-transfer rate mechanisms are shown to be important over a wide range of injection rates.