Flow of Microbial Suspension Through Porous Media

摘要

Biological methods of soil remediation and improvement are being widely considered and accepted as environmentally sustainable and economically feasible solution as compared to conventional mechanical/physical or chemical methods. Application of these methods in in-situ soil conditions involves the injection of bio-grouts or microbial suspensions in to the soil matrix. Flow of such suspensions in a porous soil matrix depends on various parameters such as, the applied grouting pressure, microbial cell density, viscosity of the injected fluid, and in-situ density of the soil mass. In the present study, the microbial suspension with different cell densities were used to conduct hydraulic conductivity experiments to ascertain the effect of above mentioned parameters. Based on the intrinsic permeability of the soil matrix and hydraulic conductivity for flow of the microbial suspensions through the soil mass, the flow nature of microbial suspension in a porous matrix has been discussed. The study further investigates the rheological behaviour of these microbial suspensions. The study adds to the understanding of flow of microbial suspension through geomaterials having practical significance in bio-grout employed for soil remediation/stabilisation.