Transport of bacteria in porous media; 1: An experimental investigation

Journal Article · Fri Aug 05 00:00:00 EDT 1994 · Biotechnology and Bioengineering; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.260440412· OSTI ID:7159018

Sarkar, A K; Georgiou, G; Sharma, M M ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)

The convective transport of concentrated suspensions of bacteria in porous media is of interest for several processes such as microbial enhanced oil recovery and in situ bioremediation. The parameters which affect the transport of the bacterium Bacillus licheniformis JF-2, a candidate microorganism for microbial enhanced oil recovery, were investigated experimentally in sandpacks. Bacteria retention and permeability reduction occurred primarily in the first few centimeters upon entering the porous medium. In downstream sections of the sandpack, the permeability reduction was low, even in cases in which high cell concentrations were detected in the effluent. The effects of (1) addition of a dispersant, (2) linear velocity of injection, (3) cell concentration, (4) salinity, (5) temperature, and (6) the presence of a residual oleic phase were determined experimentally. A lower reduction in permeability and a higher effluent bacterial concentration were obtained in the presence of dispersant, high injection velocities, low salinities, and at a higher temperature. Macroscopic measurements at different linear velocities and in the presence or absence of dispersants suggest that the formation of reversible microaggregates and multiparticle hydrodynamic exclusion may be the primary mechanisms for bacterial retention and permeability reduction.

• DOE Contract Number: FG22-89BC14445
• OSTI ID: 7159018
• Journal Information: Biotechnology and Bioengineering; (United States), Vol. 44:4; ISSN 0006-3592
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BACTERIA
MASS TRANSFER
MICROBIAL EOR
POLLUTANTS
BIODEGRADATION
POROUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ENHANCED RECOVERY
MATERIALS
MICROORGANISMS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology