How to use solutions of Advection-Dispersion Equation to describe reactive solute transport through porous media

Abstract

The solutions of Advection-Dispersion Equation are frequently used to describe solute transport through porous media when considering lineal and reversible equilibrium adsorption. To notice some warnings about this item, a review of analytical solutions available was done. There are solutions for Boundary Value Problems with first and third-type inlet boundary conditions as well as first and second-type outlet boundary condition. The behavior of equivalent solutions for finite and semi-infinite systems are analyzed, observing that semi-infinite system solutions approximates to the corresponding finite ones as the “infinite” outlet boundary condition approach to the finite measurement location. Because the analytical solutions with a first-type outlet boundary condition are equal to the corresponding analytical solutions with a second-type one, for both inlet boundary condition type used, only the latter is presented. A parametric analysis based on Peclet number shows that all solutions converge for Peclet number greater than twenty. Systems under research must have Peclet number greater than five to use confidently the solutions of Advection-Dispersion Equation to describe reactive solute transport through porous media.