Constructal view of electrokinetic transfer through porous media

This paper proposes to apply constructal theory to the optimization of ionic transfer by electrokinetics through porous media. By using an external electrical source (potential difference, or current), the ions from the pore solution of a saturated porous medium can be transferred (channelled) in an accelerated fashion, while the direction of their transport can be controlled by the electrodes position and polarity. The constructal law of maximization of flow access is used to optimize the electrokinetic process in two ways: (i) in time and (ii) in space. In (i), the ionic transport is shown to be driven by a diffusive mechanism before convection due to electrical effects which dominate the transfer. Constructal theory explains how the combination of the two mechanisms corresponds to an optimization of transport in time. In an application to ionic decontamination, the optimal location of the electrodes is determined from the constructal law by setting the diffusive ionic flow rate equal to the ionic flow rate due to electrical effects.