Biological Clogging of Sand Columns

Abstract

Increased microbial activity leads to biological clogging (or bioclogging), i.e., the pore space is clogged by microbes and saturated hydraulic conductivity of porous media decreases. A series of column experiments were carried out to study the bioclogging of sand columns. Hydraulic conductivity remained unchanged when a sterilizing agent was applied; however, it decreased when a glucose solution was applied. In most cases, bioclogging proceeded from the inlet of the solution; but, in some cases, it started from the bottom or outlet of the column. In this experiment, the reduction of hydraulic conductivity was better explained by microcolony models compared to biofilm models.

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K. Seki, "Biological Clogging of Sand Columns," Open Journal of Soil Science, Vol. 3 No. 3, 2013, pp. 148-152. doi: 10.4236/ojss.2013.33017.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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