Abstract
Bulk electrical conductivity of sediments during microbial mineralization of diesel was investigated in a mesoscale laboratory experiment consisting of biotic contaminated and uncontaminated columns. Population numbers of oil degrading microorganisms increased with a clear pattern of depth zonation within the contaminated column not observed in the uncontaminated column. Microbial community structure determined from ribosomal DNA intergenic spacer analysis showed a highly specialized microbial community in the contaminated column. The contaminated column showed temporal increases in bulk conductivity, dissolved inorganic carbon, and calcium, suggesting that the high bulk conductivity is due to enhanced mineral weathering from microbial activity. The greatest change in bulk conductivity occurred in sediments above the water table saturated with diesel. Variations in electrical conductivity magnitude and microbial populations and their depth distribution in the contaminated column are similar to field observations. The results of this study suggest that geophysical methodologies may potentially be used to investigate microbial activity.
Recommended Citation
E. A. Atekwana et al., "Evidence for Microbial Enhanced Electrical Conductivity in Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Sediments," Geophysical Research Letters, vol. 31, no. 23, American Geophysical Union (AGU), Dec 2004.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1029/2004GL021359
Department(s)
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
Sponsor(s)
National Science Foundation (U.S.)
Keywords and Phrases
Downhole Method; Magnetic And Electrical Methods; Groundwater Quality; Calcium; DNA; Electric Conductivity; Hydrocarbons; Microorganisms; Weathering; Electrical Conductivity; Intergenic Spacer Analysis; Microbial Activity; Microbial Mineralizations; Sediments; Borehole Geophysics; Diesel; Groundwater Pollution; Geophysics -- United States; Groundwater -- Quality; Hydrology -- United States
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
0094-8276
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2004 American Geophysical Union (AGU), All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Dec 2004
Comments
Funding of NSF EAR-0087795