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

Taylor, Stewart W.; Jaffé, Peter R.

doi:10.1029/wr026i009p02153

Cited by 109 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Brydie et al (2005) observed a 70 % reduction in the permeability of sand due to bioclogging. Even greater permeability reductions (three orders of magnitude) were observed in earlier studies by Taylor and Jaffé (1990a).…”

Section: Microbial Transport Studies Associated With the äSpö Hard Rosupporting

confidence: 49%

“…Such biogenic mineral precipitates and trapped mineral matter has a much higher chemical and physical stability than the biofilm, and therefore can persist in the pore system long after the biofilm has decayed or been removed (Brydie et al 2005). The phenomenon of pore clogging is a well known problem in soil science, water treatment and the petroleum industry (Taylor & Jaffé 1990a). In the oil industry, the attempt to improve oil recovery by injecting water into hydrocarbon reservoirs is often accompanied by the accumulation of biofilms resulting in clogging and formation damage near the injection well.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Where conditions are suitable there is potential for biofilaments to establish (in a matter of 5 days) causing pore blockages resulting in a decrease in permeability of the porous media and a change in the local fluid flow patterns. Extensive formation of biofilm reduces pore space, which can lead to eventual blocking of the pore system (Taylor and Jaffé 1990a;Taylor et al 1990) referred to as 'bioclogging ' (Brydie et al 2005). Brydie et al (2005) observed a 70 % reduction in the permeability of sand due to bioclogging.…”

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confidence: 99%

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The role of biofilms in subsurface transport processes

Coombs

Wagner

Bateman

et al. 2010

QJEGH

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Landfill and radioactive waste disposal risk assessments focus on contaminant transport and are principally concerned with understanding the movement of gas, water and solutes through engineered barriers and natural groundwater systems. However, microbiological activity can impact on transport processes changing the chemical and physical characteristics of the subsurface environment. Such effects are generally caused by biofilms attached to rock surfaces. This paper will present the results of an experimental study of the significance of biofilm growth on groundwater flow and the transport of contaminants in intergranular and fracture porosity flow systems.Risk assessments for landfills and geological repositories for radioactive waste are primarily based on the precepts of contaminant transport; and are concerned with understanding the movement of gas, water and solutes through engineered barriers and natural groundwater systems, within the concept of 'Source', 'Pathway' and 'Receptor'. The emphasis on solute migration for landfill investigations is reflected in the theoretical development used during numerical simulation. However, microbes living in such environments can have an impact on transport processes (Chapelle 2000;Cunningham et al. 1997; Fredrickson et al. 1989; Keith-Loach & Livens 2002;West & Chilton 1997;West et al. 2006). Microbial activity in any environment is generally located on chemical or physical interfaces, usually within biofilms, and the impacts can be both physical (e.g. altering porosity) and/or chemical (e.g. changing pH, redox conditions) and may result in intracellular or extracellular mineral formation or degradation (Beveridge et al. 1997;Ehrlich 1999;Konhauser et al. 1998;Milodowski et al. 1990;Tuck et al. 2006). Where biofilm growth in a crystalline host rock promotes mineral precipitation it can reduce water inflow and this can be a positive effect for limiting the transport of contaminants. Recent experimental work has investigated some of these chemical and physical effects in more detail in the context of the geological containment of radioactive waste. This paper will examine some of these studies and will indicate the significance of biofilms in influencing both granular and fracture flow. 2 BiofilmsA biofilm is an agglomeration of microbial cells and their excreted organic and inorganic products that is attached to, or coats, mineral surfaces or other substrates (Taylor & Jaffe 1990a). Biofilms are very common in the geosphere and biosphere, forming in diverse environments including the surfaces of human teeth (Marsh 2004), wall murals and stone monuments (Dornieden et al. 2000), stream sediments (Konhauser et al. 1998), cave and mine walls (Plate 1) and the subsurface (Tuck 2006). In such natural systems, they often comprise a mixture of interacting microbial species forming complex ecosystems. Biofilm thickness is extremely variable ranging from a single cell monolayer, to thick mucous microcolonies of microbes held together by Extracellular Polymeric Substances...

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Section: Microbial Transport Studies Associated With the äSpö Hard Rosupporting

confidence: 49%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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The role of biofilms in subsurface transport processes

Coombs

Wagner

Bateman

et al. 2010

QJEGH

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“…Biofilm growth inside the biofilter may change removal of microbial contaminants in several ways: (a) by altering the porosity [76] thereby influencing the hydraulics of flow through the porous media; (b) by modifying surface properties [77][78][79], impacting surface heterogeneity, roughness, hydrophobicity, and electrokinetic properties of the media grain surface and (c) by introducing additional microbial removal mechanisms [43,80], for example, microbial predation or physical straining. While these are the primary mechanisms through which biofilm might influence microbial removal, the magnitude and direction of effect (i.e., increase or decrease in removal) is as of yet unknown.…”

Section: Biofilmmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indicator and Pathogen Removal by Low Impact Development Best Management Practices

Peng¹,

Cao

Rippy

et al. 2016

Water

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Microbial contamination in urban stormwater is one of the most widespread and challenging water quality issues in developed countries. Low impact development (LID) best management practices (BMPs) restore pre-urban hydrology by treating and/or harvesting urban runoff and stormwater, and can be designed to remove many contaminants including pathogens. One particular type of LID BMP, stormwater biofilters (i.e., vegetated media filters, also known as bioinfiltration, bioretention, or rain gardens), is becoming increasingly popular in urban environments due to its multiple co-benefits (e.g., improved hydrology, water quality, local climate and aesthetics). However, increased understanding of the factors influencing microbial removal in biofilters is needed to effectively design and implement biofilters for microbial water quality improvement. This paper aims to provide a holistic view of microbial removal in biofilter systems, and reviews the effects of various design choices such as filter media, vegetation, infauna, submerged zones, and hydraulic retention time on microbial removal. Limitations in current knowledge and recommendations for future research are also discussed.

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“…Growth of biofilms in porous media (e.g. soil, rocks, membranes) results in permeability reduction and clogging [11]. The pore clogging of porous media by biofilms is known as "bioclogging" [8,12,13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of CO2 Injection in Fractured Calcite Rock Clogged by Pseudomonas putida Biofilm

Sygouni¹

2018

Int. J. Green Technol.

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Abstract:The effect of a possible accidental carbon dioxide (CO2) leakage from deep geologic storage reservoirs on shallow subsurface sources of potable water is receiving considerable attention, because groundwater quality can be compromised. In this work, the effect of a gas CO2 leakage on the permeability of a fractured calcite rock bioclogged with Pseudomonas (P.) putida biofilm was investigated experimentally under ambient conditions. Initially, a batch experiment of P. putida inactivation in the presence and absence of calcite was performed. Subsequently, P. putida biofilm was developed in a fractured calcite rock from Mons, Belgium. The fractured rock permeability was measured before and after bioclogging, as well as after CO2 injection. The experimental results indicated that calcite can enhance P. putida growth, and that a P. putida biofilm formation can practically eliminate fractured rock permeability (99% reduction). However, sudden CO2 injection increased the permeability of the bioclogged fractured calcite rock, but only to a level substantially lower than that corresponding to the initial permeability of the clean fractured rock.

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

Cited by 109 publications

References 20 publications

The role of biofilms in subsurface transport processes

The role of biofilms in subsurface transport processes

Indicator and Pathogen Removal by Low Impact Development Best Management Practices

Assessment of CO2 Injection in Fractured Calcite Rock Clogged by Pseudomonas putida Biofilm

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