Modeling multidimensional and multispecies biofilms in porous media. Issue 8 (18th April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tang, Youneng; Liu, Haihu
• Is Part Of: Biotechnology and bioengineering. Volume 114:Issue 8(2017)
• Page Start: 1679
• Page End: 1687
• Publication Date: 2017-04-18
• Subjects: biofilm model -- bioremediation -- cellular automaton -- pore scale -- syntroph -- uranium; Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Bioengineering -- Periodicals; 660.6
• DOI: 10.1002/bit.26292
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0006-3592

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Modeling multidimensional and multispecies biofilm in porous media at the pore scale is challenging due to the need to simultaneously track the microbial community in the biofilms and the interfaces between the biofilms and the fluid. Therefore, researchers usually assume that the model has only one dimension in space or has only one microbial species. This work uses bioremediation of U(VI)‐contaminated groundwater as the context to develop a two‐dimensional and multispecies biofilm model. The model simulates the transverse mixing zone in which U(VI) is mixed with propionate, a nutrient externally supplied to stimulate the growth of microorganisms. The model considers multiple interactions among fluid flow, transport and reaction of chemical species, and growth of biofilm. The biofilm consists of two types of active biomass (syntrophs and dissimilatory metal reducing bacteria [DMBR]) and inert biomass. The two types of active biomass collaboratively remove U(VI). The model outputs biomass distribution, chemical species concentrations, and fluid flow at the pore scale to fundamentally study the multiple interactions. The model also outputs the contaminant removal rate that can be potentially used for up‐scaling studies. The simulated results are generally consistent with experimental observations from other studies in trend. The trend can be explained by the multiple interactions based on thermodynamics and microbial kinetics. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2017;114: 1679–1687. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Abstract : To simulate interactions among biofilm development, water flow, and transport and reaction of chemical species in porous media at the pore scale, researchers usually assume that the biofilms have only one dimension and/or contain only one microbial species. This work simulates two‐dimensional biofilms that contain three biomass species, including two active microbial species and inert biomass.