Fluid-flow effects in the reactive decontamination of porous materials driven by chemical swelling or contraction

Abstract Following the release of a chemical warfare agent, it is crucial for public health that affected environment entirely decontaminated. If agent has seeped into porous building material, decontamination achieved by applying cleanser solution to surface and allowing react in, neutralising agent. Typically, are immiscible fluids so reaction occurs at fluid–fluid interfaces within pores. Previous studies have shown rate material can depend on both transport reacting interface. These all assumed two same densities, diffusion only cleanser-transport mechanism. In this paper, we relax assumption investigate effect fluid flow—generated change in density (a swelling, or contraction) during reaction—on process. This flow results advection as well chemicals. Buoyancy effects neglected. particular, show when more dense than product, process slower, due adverse effect.