One-dimensional virus transport in homogeneous porous media with time-dependent distribution coefficient

Abstract

A stochastic model for one-dimensional virus transport in homogeneous, saturated, semi-infinite porous media is developed. The model accounts for first-order inactivation of liquid-phase and adsorbed viruses with different inactivation rate constants, and time-dependent distribution coefficient. It is hypothesized that the virus adsorption process is described by a local equilibrium expression with a stochastic time-dependent distribution coefficient. A closed form analytical solution is obtained by the method of small perturbation or first-order approximation for a semi-infinite porous medium with a flux-type inlet boundary condition. The results from several simulations indicate that a time-dependent distribution coefficient results in an enhanced spreading of the liquid-phase virus concentration.