HR: 0830h
AN: B21B-0715    [PDF]
TI: Effects of Microbial Colonization, Liquid Flow and Textural Heterogeneities on Gas-Phase Transport in Unsaturated Systems
AU: * Parker, L B
EM: parkelai@engr.orst.edu
AF: Oregon State University, Department of Bioengineering, Corvallis, OR 97331
AU: Yarwood, R R
EM: rockie.yarwood@engr.orst.edu
AF: Oregon State University, Department of Crop and Soil Science, Corvallis, OR 97331
AU: Kraft, E L
EM: krafte@engr.orst.edu
AF: Oregon State University, Department of Bioengineering, Corvallis, OR 97331
AU: Selker, J S
EM: selkerj@engr.orst.edu
AF: Oregon State University, Department of Bioengineering, Corvallis, OR 97331
AB: Gaseous flow dynamics in unsaturated media were examined with respect to microbial colonization, liquid flow rates, and textural heterogeneities. A light transmission chamber consisting of two glass sheets mounted in an aluminum frame in front of a light bank was packed with translucent quartz sand and brought to unsaturated conditions. To visualize gas transport, carbon dioxide was introduced to the chamber at varying rates in combination with different liquid flow rates and textural inclusions. A methyl red pH indicator solution was used in conjunction with a liquid-cooled camera to monitor carbon dioxide concentrations and infer transport dynamics throughout the system. To explore whether gas-phase nutrients would stimulate microbial growth, acetate and ammonia vapors were pumped through a chamber inoculated with {\it Pseudomonas fluorescens} HK44. Naphthalene vapor pulses were used to induce bioluminescence, allowing imaging of responsive colonies.
DE: 1831 Groundwater quality
DE: 1875 Unsaturated zone
DE: 1894 Instruments and techniques
SC: Biogeosciences [B]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting