Transport of Escherichia coli in 25 m columns - Transport of Multiple Escherichia Coli Transport in Saturated Porous Media - page 69

0.35

6 m
12.15 m
19 m
25.65 m

0.30

0.25

0.20

0.15

0.10

0.05

0.00

0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40

Time (Hours)

Fig. 5.3: Measured breakthrough curves of UCFL-94 at the various sampling ports (from 6

to 25.65 m

Breakthrough concentrations for UCFL-131 were similar in shape and magnitude (curves not
given). The fraction of cells exiting the column for UCFL-131 was 0.87. Inactivation
experiments revealed little to no inactivation for both strains over the duration of the experiment
(data not shown). Also, tests prior to experiments revealed no presence of E. coli after cleaning
column.

5.4.3 Sticking efficiencies over total transport distances and segment sticking efficiencies

Measured sticking efficiencies Α L and segment sticking efficiencies Α over total transport
distances and column segments, respectively, indicated reductions in bacteria attachment with
increasing transport distance. Over total transport distances Α L reduced with distance of
transport ( Fig. 5.4a ) and varied from 4.55×10 -3 at 6 m to 1.18×10 -3 at 25.6 m for UCFL-94 and
for UCFL-131 and ranged from 7.62×10 -4 at 6 m to 2.26×10 -4 at 25.65 m.