Transport of bacteria in porous media: I. An experimental investigation

Abstract

The convective transport of concentrated suspension 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 (10(8) cfu/mL) were detected in the effluent. The effect of (i) addition of a dispersant, (ii) linear velocity of injection, (iii) cell concentration, (iv) salinity (v) temperature, and (vi) 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. (c) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Oxidative destabilization of dissolved organics and E. coli in domestic wastewater through immobilized cell reactor system

“…It can be observed from the figure that an increase in the space time from 13.13 to 34.34 min significantly decreased the number of E. coli in the CAACO-treated wastewater. Lower purification, as a result of higher flow rate, has been observed in several experiments (Smith et al, 1985;Gannon et al, 1991;Sharkar et al, 1994;Lawarence and Henry, 1996). It is known that high flow rate (Q) or low space time (t) increase the water velocity through voids in the carbon bed and reduces the exchange between carbon particles and mobile water.…”

Magnetohydrodynamics and Soret Effects on Bioconvection in a Porous Medium Saturated With a Nanofluid Containing Gyrotactic Microorganisms

“…The base fluid is a dilute water solution of nutrients in which the microorganisms can live and flow though the porous medium. From experimental results, it has been observed that the microorganisms can withstand temperatures of 42 °C (Sarkar et al [21]). The effect of the magnetic field appears when the magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (of size 10-250 nm) are suspended in the base fluid with concentration less than 1%.…”

“…Convective transport of concentrated suspensions of bacteria in porous media has interesting applications in areas of microbial enhanced oil recovery and in situ bioremediation. Sarkar et al [21] experimentally investigated the convective transport of bacteria in porous media subject to effects such as the addition of a dispersant and wall suction/injection. Subsequently, a model for the convective transport and growth of bacteria in porous media was depicted by Sarkar et al [22].…”

Growth ofLeuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL-B523 in an alkaline medium: Suboptimal pH growth inhibition of a lactic acid bacterium

“…The bulk cell concentration also has a significant effect on the rate at which a porous matrix may be plugged by deposition (Jang et al, 1983;Sarkar et al, 1994). Although flow-induced deposition can lead to a decrease in permeability, it has also been shown that, without the production of exopolymers in a highly permeable matrix, there is no change in system permeability (Lappan and Fogler, 1992).…”