Abstract
Biofilms are microbial communities that are attached to a surface in three dimensions. Biofilms formed when microorganisms like bacteria adhere, proliferate and enclose themselves in extracellular polymeric polymers (EPS) which is self-produced. It is formed in natural ecosystem or engineered systems and plays remarkable role in hydrodynamics in porous media. Microbial biofilms are resistant to environmental factors like temperature, pH, and water activity, mechanical stress. Microbial biofilms can impact the hydrodynamics of porous medium in both natural and artificial systems. Porosity, permeability, dispersion, diffusion, and mass transfer of reactive and nonreactive solutes are all influenced by biofilm development in porous media. Understanding and regulating biofilm development in porous medium will maximize the potential value of porous media biofilms while minimizing the negative consequences. Beneficial porous media biofilm uses include subsurface cleanup, improved oil recovery, and carbon sequestration, to name a few. The objective of the chapter is to focus on the various aspects of biofilm development in porous media.
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Garg, E., Varma, A., Smitha, M.S. (2023). Biofilms in Porous Media. In: Shah, M.P. (eds) Modern Approaches in Waste Bioremediation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-24086-7_17
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-24086-7_17
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