Local pore correlations and the anomalous transport of emulsions in porous media

The transport of emulsions is ubiquitous in both industrial and environmental settings, such as material encapsulation and subsurface flow. We experimentally quantify the microscale dynamics and macroscale transport properties of emulsions in porous media simultaneously. Using 2D micromodels of porous media, we track the transport of individual droplets and droplet clusters, determining the role of pore structure in influencing transport behavior. The mean square displacement of the droplets reveals several transport regimes. Most droplets exhibit superdiffusive behavior, with polydisperse emulsions demonstrating more dynamic transport through unclogging and clogging events. Natural porous media, with their inherent structural complexity and closer packing, promote more stable and predictable emulsion transport, reducing instances of high-velocity, ballistic movement. In contrast, artificial porous media, which can be engineered with varying porosity and structure, allow for a broader range of transport regimes, including enhanced ballistic transport.