Numerical experiments for bioclogging in porous media.
A mathematical model was developed in this study based on the macroscopic approach to describe bioclogging process in saturated porous media. Bacterial attachment and growth along with formation of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from substrate has been incorporated into the model. The model was used to simulate column experimental data for permeability change from literature. Numerical experiments were performed to investigate the effect of biomass growth and attachment on the permeability and porosity. In addition, sensitivity analysis was carried out to examine the influences of key model parameters on the model behavior. The predictive model could successfully fit the experimental data. Simulation results illustrated that relative permeability and porosity of porous media can be altered by the biomass growth and attachment on the solid matrix. Results also indicated that EPS may play a significant role in bioclogging in porous media. Sensitivity analyses showed that permeability and porosity profiles were sensitive to parameters such as maximum utilization rate of substrate and yield coefficient. Even though the bioclogging model presented in this study is not comprehensive, it will help understand the change of porous medium properties due to biomass deposition and growth.
Ham
Y J
YJ
Environmental Biocolloid Engineering Laboratory, Program in Rural System Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-921, Korea.
Kim
S B
SB
Park
S J
SJ
D018533:Biomass; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010539:Permeability; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity