ONE-DIMENSIONAL VIRUS TRANSPORT IN POROUS-MEDIA WITH TIME-DEPENDENT INACTIVATION RATE COEFFICIENTS

A model for virus transport in one-dimensional, homogeneous, saturated porous media is developed, accounting for virus sorption and inactiva tion of liquid phase and adsorbed viruses with different time dependen t rate coefficients. The virus inactivation process is represented by a pseudo first-order rate expression. The pseudo first-order approxima tion is shown to simulate available experimental data from three virus inactivation batch studies better than the frequently employed consta nt rate inactivation model. Model simulations indicated that the pseud o first-order approximation, compared to the constant inactivation, le ads to extended survival of viruses and, consequently, more distant mi gration. Results from a parameter sensitivity analysis demonstrated th at estimation of pseudo first-order inactivation rate coefficients fro m field observations requires data collection near the source of virus contamination during initial stages of virus transport.