Characterization of the physical, chemical, and biological factors that control the fate and transport of bacteria through glacial-outwash sediments

by Mitchell, Beth Louise.

CHARACTERIZATION OF THE PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL, AND BIOLOGICAL FACTORS THAT CONTROL THE FATE AND TRANSPORT OF BACTERIA THROUGH GLACIAL-OUTWASH AQUIFER SEDIMENTS by Beth L. Mitchell This study investigated the effects of sediment grain size distribution, mineralogy and surface charge, and bacterial surface charge on bacterial transport through natural porous media. Bacterial flow-through experiments were conducted using three intact heterogeneous sediment cores. Sediments were characterized for their physical and chemical properties. The surface charge of the suspended bacteria in the influent and effluent was also measured. Results indicated that the presence of dolomite was significant to the fractions of retained bacteria. Surface charge of the effluent bacteria results indicated that the attractive forces between the sediments and bacteria were significant to bacterial transport. The overall results of this study indicate that degree of sorting, presence of carbonates, and surface charge of the bacteria are all related to the number of retained bacteria.