Aproximación cinética a la modelización de los procesos de interacción agua-roca

Abstract

Kinetic approach to the modeling of water-rock interaction is necessary in order to understand better natural systems, specialy when the equilibrium assumption is not valid and thus the use of thermodynamic models limited. However, the use of purely kinetic models is nowadays limited because of the scarce theoretical knowledge of this processes in the Nature. Reaction rate constants have been defined by measurement in laboratory or in very simple natural systems, and their extrapolation to more complicated processes is very risky. It has driven to an alternative way in modeling kinetic processes by the use of equilibrium codes following two types of approach: a) mass balance between points in the system and b) reaction-path models. Kinetic models are research tools more than application tools but, taking into account the paramount interest in understanding natural systems, this approach, as well as the reaction- transport one, will have an important development in a near future.