Hydrodynamics of cell suspension flow and biofilm formation in porous media: A laboratory study

Transport of suspended bacterial cells, their adhesion to inert surfaces, the accumulation of biofilm in porous media, and their subsequent effects on fluid hydrodynamics in porous media depend on a number of complex physical, chemical and biological processes. Biofilm formation can have significant effects on fluid hydrodynamics in such situations as groundwater flow, in-situ bioremediation of contaminated soils, water flooding of oil bearing substrata, and packed-bed reactor systems. In this study, research into the dynamics of suspended bacteria cell transport within porous media and subsequent biofilm formation is presented. Effects of biofilm formation on porous media permeability and fluid hydrodynamics are simulated by mathematical model and verified experimentally.