Positive Zeta Potential in Sandstones Saturated With Natural Saline Brine

Abstract It is widely accepted that the zeta potential in natural sandstones is negative in the brine pH and compositions found in the subsurface. The zeta potential is a measure of the electrical potential at a mineral surface. We report new measurements of the zeta potential using a saline natural...

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Main Authors: Mutlaq Alarouj, Harry Collini, Matthew D. Jackson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-10-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL094306
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author Mutlaq Alarouj
Harry Collini
Matthew D. Jackson
author_facet Mutlaq Alarouj
Harry Collini
Matthew D. Jackson
author_sort Mutlaq Alarouj
collection DOAJ
description Abstract It is widely accepted that the zeta potential in natural sandstones is negative in the brine pH and compositions found in the subsurface. The zeta potential is a measure of the electrical potential at a mineral surface. We report new measurements of the zeta potential using a saline natural brine rich in divalent ions. The sandstone samples were quartz dominated but some also contained dolomite, siderite, and clay minerals. The quartz‐dominated sandstones showed behavior consistent with earlier studies, but the dolomite‐ and siderite‐bearing samples returned positive zeta potentials. We suggest that this is caused by a positive zeta potential on dolomite and siderite mineral surfaces, adsorption of divalent ions onto quartz mineral surfaces, and/or ion exchange with clay minerals. The results have broad implications for the zeta potential of natural sandstones, because the magnitude and polarity of the zeta potential impact geophysical monitoring and the transport of the charged contaminants.
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series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-166791c035cc4813b5055f90b5c9d2ad2025-08-20T03:22:14ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072021-10-014820n/an/a10.1029/2021GL094306Positive Zeta Potential in Sandstones Saturated With Natural Saline BrineMutlaq Alarouj0Harry Collini1Matthew D. Jackson2Earth Science and Engineering Department Imperial College London London UKEarth Science and Engineering Department Imperial College London London UKEarth Science and Engineering Department Imperial College London London UKAbstract It is widely accepted that the zeta potential in natural sandstones is negative in the brine pH and compositions found in the subsurface. The zeta potential is a measure of the electrical potential at a mineral surface. We report new measurements of the zeta potential using a saline natural brine rich in divalent ions. The sandstone samples were quartz dominated but some also contained dolomite, siderite, and clay minerals. The quartz‐dominated sandstones showed behavior consistent with earlier studies, but the dolomite‐ and siderite‐bearing samples returned positive zeta potentials. We suggest that this is caused by a positive zeta potential on dolomite and siderite mineral surfaces, adsorption of divalent ions onto quartz mineral surfaces, and/or ion exchange with clay minerals. The results have broad implications for the zeta potential of natural sandstones, because the magnitude and polarity of the zeta potential impact geophysical monitoring and the transport of the charged contaminants.https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL094306zeta potentialnatural sandstonenatural brinesurface charge
spellingShingle Mutlaq Alarouj
Harry Collini
Matthew D. Jackson
Positive Zeta Potential in Sandstones Saturated With Natural Saline Brine
Geophysical Research Letters
zeta potential
natural sandstone
natural brine
surface charge
title Positive Zeta Potential in Sandstones Saturated With Natural Saline Brine
title_full Positive Zeta Potential in Sandstones Saturated With Natural Saline Brine
title_fullStr Positive Zeta Potential in Sandstones Saturated With Natural Saline Brine
title_full_unstemmed Positive Zeta Potential in Sandstones Saturated With Natural Saline Brine
title_short Positive Zeta Potential in Sandstones Saturated With Natural Saline Brine
title_sort positive zeta potential in sandstones saturated with natural saline brine
topic zeta potential
natural sandstone
natural brine
surface charge
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL094306
work_keys_str_mv AT mutlaqalarouj positivezetapotentialinsandstonessaturatedwithnaturalsalinebrine
AT harrycollini positivezetapotentialinsandstonessaturatedwithnaturalsalinebrine
AT matthewdjackson positivezetapotentialinsandstonessaturatedwithnaturalsalinebrine