A theoretical model based on a random walk procedure for predicting the breakthrough curve of viruses from packed-bed absorbers is developed. The percolation of contaminated water through and removal of virus particles by clean packed beds is modeled by solving the overall equation accounting for the probabilities of motion of all possible paths and rebounding of the virus particles from the adsorbent walls when effects of fluid eddies are important.
The model predictions agree qualitatively with experimental observations reported in the literature for virus breakthrough from activated carbon columns where the variables studied included bed length, flow rate and particle size. Quantitative agreement requires data specific to the modeling situation and evaluation of parameters.