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Abstract
Biofilms growth in porous media can significantly reduce permeability, influencing subsurface flow and transport processes relevant to groundwater remediation, waste containment, and enhanced oil recovery. This study investigates biofilm development under radial flow conditions using custom-designed microfluidic chips. The chip design was simplified by incorporating axisymmetric radial flow with a heterogeneous pore size distribution, mimicking flow from a central injection point. Pseudomonas fluorescens biofilms were cultivated under varying flow rates using King’s B medium, with time-lapse imaging monitored via a digital camera mounted on a microscope and injection pressure recorded using a pressure sensor. Results revealed permeability reductions of up to three orders of magnitude, depending on the injection flow rate. At low to moderate flow rates, higher injection rates promoted biofilm growth near the inlet, resulting in the higher permeability reduction. In contrast, higher flow rates produced uneven biofilm growth, localized clogging in non-dominant flow paths, and biofilm detachment, resulting in less pronounced permeability impacts. At the pore scale, biofilm growth predominantly initiated at channel intersections, with flow rates critically shaping spatial distribution. These findings illuminate the interplay between biofilm dynamics, hydraulic resistance, and nutrient gradients, offering insights to optimize biofilm-based applications for subsurface well injections.
Keywords: biofilm, porous media, Hydraulic Conductivity, Microfluidics, Bioclogging
| Country | Ireland |
|---|---|
| Water & Porous Media Focused Abstracts | This abstract is related to Water |
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