Transport and Adsorption of Nano-Colloids in Porous Media Observed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging

We use magnetic resonance imaging to follow the adsorption of colloids during their transport through a porous medium (grain packing). We injected successive pulses of a suspension of nanoparticles able to adsorb onto the grains. To get quantitative information we carry out 2D imaging and 1D measurements of the evolution in time of the distribution profile of all particles (suspended or adsorbed) in cross-sectional layers along the sample axis during the flow. For the first injections we observe the 1D profile amplitude progressively damping as particles advance through the sample, due to their adsorption. 2D imaging shows that successive injections finally result in a coverage of grains by adsorbed particles regularly progressing along the sample. The analysis of the results makes it possible to get a clear description of the adsorption process. In our specific case (particle charged oppositely to the adsorption sites) it appears that the particles rapidly explore the pores and adsorb as soon as they encounter available sites on grains, and the surplus of particles goes on advancing in the sample. A further analysis of the profiles makes it possible to distinguish the respective concentration distribution of suspended and adsorbed particles over time at each step of the process.