Transport of Edible Oil Emulsions in Clayey Sands: One-Dimensional Column Results and Model Development

Abstract

The transport and retention of a soybean oil-in-water emulsion was evaluated in laboratory columns packed with a medium to fine clayey sand amended with varying amounts of kaolinite. Results from these experiments demonstrated that appropriately prepared soybean oil-in-water emulsions can be distributed in clayey sand at least 80 cm away from injection point. Kaolinite addition to the clayey sand resulted in an increase in the maximum oil retention. However, the empty bed collision efficiencies in columns packed with clayey sand amended with kaolinite were lower than in columns packed with only clayey sand, suggesting that kaolinite is a less efficient collector of oil droplets than natural clayey sand. A standard colloidal transport model provided an adequate description of effluent breakthrough and the final oil distribution in the laboratory columns. This transport model was implemented as a user defined module within RT3D. Model parameters determined in replicate columns and at varying velocities were reasonably reproducible.