Title: Pore cross-talk in colloidal filtration,
Abstract: Blockage of pores by particles is found in many processes, including
filtration and oil extraction. We present filtration experiments through a
linear array of ten channels with one dimension which is sub-micron, through
which a dilute dispersion of Brownian polystyrene spheres flows under the
action of a fixed pressure drop. The growth rate of a clog formed by particles
at a pore entrance systematically increases with the number of already
saturated (entirely clogged) pores, indicating that there is an interaction or
"cross-talk" between the pores. This observation is interpreted based on a
phenomenological model, stating that a diffusive redistribution of particles
occurs along the membrane, from clogged to free pores. This one-dimensional
model could be extended to two-dimensional membranes.