Removal of microorganisms and influencing factors in porous media

Abstract:

Removal of microorganisms in soil and groundwater environments is closely related to groundwater resource protection, groundwater pollution treatment, and soil pollution prevention. Due to complex structures and spatial heterogeneity of porous media in nature, the removal of microorganisms is susceptible to multiple environmental factors. This paper summarized several models, theories, and research methods of typical removal of microorganisms in porous media, and sorted out three factors (physical, chemical, and biological factors) affecting the removal of microorganisms in porous media. The physical factors included the particle size, surface roughness, saturation, ambient temperature, and flow rate in porous media. The chemical factors include pH, ionic species and strength, soluble organic matter content, and chemical properties of porous media. The biological factors involve not only the microbial species, cell size, and cell surface properties, but also the secretion of extracellular polymers, flagellar mediated motility, and chemotaxis. The purpose of this paper is to improve the understanding of the removal of microorganisms in porous media by reviewing the related research in recent years, to provide a theoretical basis for its practical application in the remediation of polluted groundwater and soil.