Modeling Microbial Contaminant Transport and Deposition in Calcareous Soils under Saturated Conditions

Microbial transport in soil is critical in different ways, especially in groundwater contamination and bioremediation of groundwater or soil. The main objectives of this research were quantitative study of bacterial transport and deposition under saturated conditions in calcareous soils. A series of column leaching experiments were conducted. Breakthrough curves (BTCs) of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Cl- were measured. After leaching experiment the bacteria was measured in difference layers of the soil columns. The HYDRUS-1D one- and two-site kinetic attachment-detachment models were used to fit and predict transport and deposition of bacteria in soil columns experiments. The results indicated that two-site kinetic model leads to better prediction breakthrough curves and bacteria retention in the calcareous soil in comparison with one-site kinetic model. Interaction with kinetic site 1 was characterized by relatively fast attachment and slow detachment, whereas attachment to and detachment from kinetic site 2 was fast. Fast attachment and slow detachment of site 1 was attributed to soil calcium carbonate that has favorable attachment site for bacteria. The detachment rate was less than 0.01 of the attachment rate, indicating irreversible attachment of bacteria. Most of the cells were retained close to the soil column inlet, and the rate of deposition decreased with depth. Microbial reduction rate for the soil was 4.02-4.88 log m-1. High reduction rate of bacteria was also attributed to soil calcium carbonate that has favorable attachment site for bacteria.