An image processing approach for investigation on transport of iron oxide nanoparticles (FE3O4) stabilized with poly acrylic acid in two-dimensional porous media

Iron oxide nanoparticles were stabilized using poly acrylic acid (PAA) to yield stabilized slurry of Iron oxide nanoparticles. A two-dimensional physical model filled by glass beads was used to study the fate and transport of the iron oxide nanoparticles stabilized with PAA in porous media under saturated, steady-state flow conditions. Transport data for a nonreactive tracer, slurry of iron oxide nanoparticles stabilized with PAA were collected under similar flow conditions. The results show that low concentration slurry of iron oxide nanoparticles stabilized with PAA can be transported like a tracer without significant retardation. The image processing technique was employed to measure the tracer/nanoparticle concentration inside the 2-D model filled with glass beads. The groundwater flow model, Visual MODFLOW, was used to model the observed transport patterns through MT3DMS module. Finally, it was demonstrated that the numerical model MODFLOW can be used to predict the fate and transport characteristics of nanoparticles stabilized with PAA in groundwater aquifers. •Studying the fate and transport of the iron oxide nanoparticles stabilized with PAA in porous media.•Using image processing method in identification of tracer concentration inside the 2-D container filled with glass beads.•Applying Visual MODFLOW to model the observed density-driven transport patterns.•Using the results of tracer solution transport experiment for calculation of longitudinal dispersion coefficient.•Considering effect of physical and chemical heterogeneities present in soils on filtration and clogging of nanoparticles.