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Title:
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Connecting bacterial colonization to physical and biochemical changes in a sand box infiltration experiment
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Author:
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Rubol, Simonetta; Freixa, Anna; Carles Brangari, Albert; Fernández García, Daniel; Romani Cornet, Anna Maria; Sánchez Vila, Francisco Javier
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Other authors:
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Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Departament d'Enginyeria del Terreny, Cartogràfica i Geofísica; Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. GHS - Grup d'Hidrologia Subterrània |
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Abstract:
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Infiltration through sediments is linked to complex biogeochemical processes occurring at small spatial scales, often leading to a progressive reduction in infiltration rates due to microbial growth and/or mechanical clogging. Unraveling the linkage between microbial dynamics and water infiltration in a heterogeneous medium is of concern in artificial recharge ponds and natural infiltration systems. We present an 84-day laboratory infiltration experiment that aims at studying the temporal variation of selected biogeochemical parameters at different depths along the infiltration path. The experimental setup consists of a 1.2 m high tank packed with a heterogeneous soil and instrumented with arrays of sensors as well as soil and liquid samplers. Results indicate that: (i) microbial processes are responsible for infiltration reduction, enhancing the spatially heterogeneous distribution of infiltration rates with time, (ii) bacteria and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) are present at all monitored depths, indicating the potential for deep biological clogging, (iii) bacteria functioning and richness exhibit depth zonation after the system reaches a mature state and (iv) the retention curve changes towards highest saturation by the end of the experiment. The increase in water holding capacity is largest at depth, where the presence of EPS is noticeable. The reduction in time of the quantity of water infiltrating along the tank can only be accounted for with a truly interdisciplinary approach involving physical, chemical and biological processes |
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Abstract:
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Peer Reviewed |
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Subject(s):
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-Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria civil::Geologia::Hidrologia subterrània
-Groundwater
-Infiltration
-Microbial growth
-Clogging
-Water retention curve
-EPS
-Preferential flow
-SATURATED POROUS-MEDIA
-REACTIVE TRANSPORT
-BIOFILM FORMATION
-HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
-CONTAMINATED AQUIFERS
-ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE
-UNSATURATED SOILS
-WATER-QUALITY
-GRAIN-SIZE
-Hidrologia subterrània -- Mètodes de simulació |
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Rights:
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Document type:
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Article - Published version
Article |
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Published by:
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Elsevier
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