Influence of biofilm accumulation on porous media hydrodynamics

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Environmental Science and Technology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00019a013· OSTI ID:5450481

Cunningham, A B; Characklis, W G; Abedeen, F; Crawford, D ^[1]

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1. Montana State Univ., Bozeman (United States)

Laboratory-scale porous media biofilm reactors were used to evaluate the effect of biofilm accumulation, measured as the average thickness along a 50-mm flow path, on media porosity, permeability, and friction factor. Media tested consisted of 1-mm glass spheres, 0.70-mm sand, 0.54-mm sand, and 0.12-mm glass and sand. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was used as inoculum and 25 mg/l glucose substrate was continuously supplied to the reactor. Reactors were operated under constant piezometric head conditions resulting in a flow rate decrease as biofilm developed. The progression of biofilm thickness followed a sigmoidal-shaped curve reaching a maximum thickness after {approximately}5 days. Media porosity decreased between 50 and 96% with increased biofilm accumulation while permeability decreased between 92 and 98%. Porous media friction factor increased substantially for all media tested. Observations of permeability in the biofilm-media matrix indicate that a minimum permeability ((3-7) {times} 10{sup {minus}8} cm{sup 2}) persisted after biofilm thickness has reached a maximum value. Such results indicate substantial interaction between mass transport, hydrodynamics, and biofilm accumulation at the fluid-biofilm interface in porous media. Improved understanding of these interactions will lead to industrial and environmental applications in biohydrometallurgy, enhanced oil recovery, and bioremediation of contaminated groundwater and soil.

• OSTI ID: 5450481
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology; (United States) Vol. 25:7; ISSN ESTHA; ISSN 0013-936X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALDEHYDES
BACTERIA
BIOREACTORS
CARBOHYDRATES
COATINGS
CORRELATIONS
DATA
DEPOSITION
DEPOSITS
DIMENSIONS
DISSOLUTION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUID MECHANICS
FOSSIL FUELS
FRICTION FACTOR
FUELS
GLUCOSE
GROUND WATER
HEXOSES
HYDRODYNAMICS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
LAND RECLAMATION
LEACHING
MATERIALS
MEASURING METHODS
MECHANICS
MICROBIAL EOR
MICROBIAL LEACHING
MICROORGANISMS
MONOSACCHARIDES
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERMEABILITY
PETROLEUM
POROSITY
POROUS MATERIALS
PSEUDOMONAS
RECOVERY
REMEDIAL ACTION
SACCHARIDES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOILS
THICKNESS
WATER