Use of saponin foam reinforced with colloidal particles as an application to soil remediation: Experiments in a 2D tank

Foam can be used to achieve environmental remediation in case of contamination caused by light non aqueous phase spills. However, when it comes contact with oily pollutants, foam becomes weaker and its life time is greatly reduced. Such weakening dampened using silica particles -together saponin surfactant- which were shown reinforce bulk 1D sandpack experiments. Here addressed both propagation a 2D porous media buoyancy gravity interfere, behaviour floating oil. Therefore, macroscopic displacement, specific liquid gas phases behaviours studied 2D-tank. A piston-like displacement was observed during the absence oil, while influenced did not propagate homogeneously on entire tank height. In presence partly destroyed, increased local permeability created new preferential paths for flow. This effect partially avoided via surfactant concentration increase, but solid colloidal turned out more efficient stabilizing agent, significantly increasing strength oil-tolerance.