Biofilm growth and the related changes in the physical properties of a porous medium 1. Experimental investigation

Journal Article · Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Water Resources Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/WR026i009p02153· OSTI ID:5347202

Taylor, S W; Jaffe, P R ^[1]

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1. Princeton Univ., NJ (USA)

An experimental investigaton was conducted to quantify the permeability reduction caused by enhanced biological growth in a porous medium. Studies were conducted using sand-packed column reactors for which variations in piezometric head, substrate concentration, and biomass measured as organic carbon were monitored in space and time. Methanol was used as a growth substrate. Permeability reductions by factors of order 10{sup {minus}3} were observed. The data show that a limit on permeability reduction exists, having a magnitude of 5 {times} 10{sup {minus}4} in the present study. The limit on permeability reduction and the existence of high densities of bacteria in substrate depleted zones are explained with an open pore model. Permeability reduction was observed to correlate well with biomass density for values less than about 0.4 mg/cm{sup 3}, and exhibited independence at higher densities.

• OSTI ID: 5347202
• Journal Information: Water Resources Research; (United States), Vol. 26:9; ISSN 0043-1397
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
BACTERIA
GROWTH
FILTERS
PERMEABILITY
METHANOL
METABOLISM
POROUS MATERIALS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
BIOMASS
BIOREACTORS
DENSITY
GROUND WATER
SUBSTRATES
ALCOHOLS
ENERGY SOURCES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
WATER
090900* - Biomass Fuels- Processing- (1990-)