Pore scale numerical modeling of bacterial growth and decay in Cr VI reactive transport

Pallepati, Apoorva and K B V N, Phanindra (2019) Pore scale numerical modeling of bacterial growth and decay in Cr VI reactive transport. Masters thesis, Indian institute of technology Hyderabad.

Preview

Text
Mtech_Thesis_TD1490_2019.pdf
Download (2MB) | Preview

Abstract

To understand the mechanism of bacteria growth in a reactive transport model inside a bio barrier for bioremediation, numerical modeling in the pore scale has to be done. An attempt has been made to understand and simulate the growth and decay of indigenous bacteria in a saturated porous medium at pore scale having a known concentration of Cr VI and to predict the enhanced microbial activity for the transformation of Cr VI to Cr III. Darcy scale models previously developed failed to address the hydrodynamics of the system, and contaminant degradation rates were over-predicted. In this study, the pore scale model combines processes such as fluid flow, solute transport with advection & diffusion equations of Cr VI reactive transport. Along with biotransformation of Cr VI and substrate consumption, the model majorly incorporates bacterial growth and decay on a pore scale. The model is divided into three portions, one for each of the processes and operated on different time scales. The mathematical equations are solved using FEM with appropriate initial and boundary conditions. The model developed can predict the velocity and pressure profiles developed fairly well. It can also predict the movement and, consumption of the substrate and biotransformation of Cr (VI) by bacteria along with the changes in its concentration.

[error in script]

IITH Creators: