Electrokinetic phenomena in saturated compact clays

The membrane potential, the pressure difference, and the concentration difference induced by an applied concentration gradient through samples of compact clay were measured as functions of sodium chloride concentration and of porosity. The results of some previous numerical predictions are recalled to be functions of a characteristic length scale which can be derived from conductivity and permeability. Generally, the experimental data were in agreement with these numerical predictions. Therefore, nondiagonal coupling coefficients can be derived with acceptable precision from the diagonal coefficients.

The membrane potential (see figure), the pressure difference, and the concentration difference induced by an applied concentration gradient can be estimated from conductivity and permeability.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide