Macroscopic and microscopic aspects of microbe and colloid transport and retention in aqueous systems

了解控制水系统中微生物（如细菌和原生动物）和胶体的运输和滞留的因素和机制，对于原位生物修复、保护地下环境免受水生污染物的侵害、水和废水处理设施的设计以及改进植入式医疗设备的开发具有重要意义。尽管在阐明水环境中控制生物和非生物胶体的运输和命运的相互作用方面已经进行了大量的研究工作，但仍有许多未解决的问题。本研究旨在探讨生物膜及其性质和组成的变化对天然和工程水系统中微生物和颗粒运输和保留的影响。生物膜是一种结构良好的微生物群落，它被包裹在由排泄的聚合物质组成的自形成的基质中，并附着在活的或惰性的表面上。在自然的地下环境中，生物膜可以在土壤颗粒表面形成，从而改变其物理化学性质，从而改变其过滤效率。

Understanding the factors and mechanisms controlling the transport and retention of microorganisms (e.g, bacteria and protozoa) and colloids in aqueous systems is important for in-situ bioremediation, protection of subsurface environments from waterborne contaminants, design of water and wastewater treatment facilities, and development of improved implantable medical devices. Although considerable research efforts have been directed at elucidating the interactions governing the transport and fate of biological and nonbiological colloids in aqueous environments, a number of unresolved issues remain. This research aims to address the influence of biofilms and variations in their properties and composition on microbial and particle transport and retention in natural and engineered aqueous systems. Biofilms are structured communities of microorganisms enclosed within a self-developed matrix of excreted polymeric substances and adherent to a living or inert surface. In the natural subsurface environment, biofilm can form on the surface of soil grains, thereby altering their physicochemical properties and hence their filtration efficiency.