Effect of surface properties and flow regime on the transport of bacteria in groundwater: An experimental approach

Bacteria are transported with groundwater and this phenomenon has potential engineering applications such as bioremediation. The success of bioremediation can be related to transport distance or conditions that determine bacterial adhesion to the soil surfaces. In this study it is experimentally shown that different bacterial surface properties as well as different adsorption and transport characteristics can be obtained from the same species by using different-growth conditions. Xenobiotic degrading bacteria, Pseudomanas strain D, capable of biodegrading hazardous waste (s-triazine) had more hydrophobic surface properties in the absence of carbon and less hydrophobic surface properties in the absence of nitrogen. Their transport through porous media was also affected as a result.