Relationship Between Microbial Growth and Hydraulic Properties at the Sub-Pore Scale
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in: Transport in porous media, Jahrgang 139.2021, Nr. September, 06.09.2021, S. 579-593.
Publikationen: Beitrag in Fachzeitschrift › Artikel › Forschung › (peer-reviewed)
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Relationship Between Microbial Growth and Hydraulic Properties at the Sub-Pore Scale
AU - Hassannayebi, Neda
AU - Jammernegg, Boris
AU - Schritter, Johanna
AU - Arnold, Pit
AU - Enzmann, Frieder
AU - Kersten, Michael
AU - Loibner, Andreas P.
AU - Fernø, Martin
AU - Ott, Holger
PY - 2021/9/6
Y1 - 2021/9/6
N2 - Accumulation of microbial biomass and its influence on porous media flow were investigated under saturated flow conditions. Microfluidic experiments were performed with model organisms, and their accumulation was observed in the pore space and on the sub-pore scale. Time-lapse optical imaging revealed different modes of biomass accumulation through primary colonization, secondary growth, and filtration events, showing the formation of preferential flow pathways in the flooding domain as result of the increasing interstitial velocity. Navier–Stokes–Brinkmann flow simulations were performed on the segmented images—a digital-twin approach—considering locally accumulated biomass as impermeable or permeable based on optical biomass density. By comparing simulation results and the experimental responses, it was shown that accumulated biomass can be considered as a permeable medium. The average intra-biomass permeability was determined to be 500 ± 200 mD, which is more than a factor of 10 larger than previously assumed in modeling studies. These findings have substantial consequences: (1) a remaining interstitial permeability, as a result of the observed channel formation and the intra-biomass permeability, and (2) a potential advective nutrient supply, which can be considered more efficient than a purely diffusive supply. The second point may lead to higher metabolic activity and substrate conversion rates which is of particular interest for geobiotechnological applications.
AB - Accumulation of microbial biomass and its influence on porous media flow were investigated under saturated flow conditions. Microfluidic experiments were performed with model organisms, and their accumulation was observed in the pore space and on the sub-pore scale. Time-lapse optical imaging revealed different modes of biomass accumulation through primary colonization, secondary growth, and filtration events, showing the formation of preferential flow pathways in the flooding domain as result of the increasing interstitial velocity. Navier–Stokes–Brinkmann flow simulations were performed on the segmented images—a digital-twin approach—considering locally accumulated biomass as impermeable or permeable based on optical biomass density. By comparing simulation results and the experimental responses, it was shown that accumulated biomass can be considered as a permeable medium. The average intra-biomass permeability was determined to be 500 ± 200 mD, which is more than a factor of 10 larger than previously assumed in modeling studies. These findings have substantial consequences: (1) a remaining interstitial permeability, as a result of the observed channel formation and the intra-biomass permeability, and (2) a potential advective nutrient supply, which can be considered more efficient than a purely diffusive supply. The second point may lead to higher metabolic activity and substrate conversion rates which is of particular interest for geobiotechnological applications.
U2 - 10.1007/s11242-021-01680-5
DO - 10.1007/s11242-021-01680-5
M3 - Article
VL - 139.2021
SP - 579
EP - 593
JO - Transport in porous media
JF - Transport in porous media
SN - 0169-3913
IS - September
ER -