Chapter 9: Transport of Polymer Colloids in Porous Media

Colloidal particle transport in porous media is of practical interest in key applications including wastewater treatment, contaminant containment, enhanced oil recovery, filtration, and drug delivery. Here, we review the physicochemical principles that govern particle transport in a porous medium, both at the pore and macroscopic scales, and highlight experimental advancements in our understanding of these principles. Finally, we describe unique opportunities for the use of polymer colloids that leverage the precision of existing polymer fabrication and characterization approaches to control colloid morphology and surface properties in emerging applications.