University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Simulation on particle adhesion on simulated and modified drinking water biofilms

Huang, Conghui

Content Files
HUANG-THESIS-2015.pdf

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/89239

Description

Title
Simulation on particle adhesion on simulated and modified drinking water biofilms
Author(s)
Huang, Conghui
Issue Date
2015-12-11
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Nguyen, Thanh H.
Department of Study
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Discipline
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Level
Thesis
Date of Ingest
2016-03-02T21:07:12Z
Keyword(s)
  • drinking water biofilm
  • simulation
  • particle deposition
Abstract
Biofilms, commonly found in drinking water distribution system (DWDS), play an important role in pathogens transportation and persistent and raise concern on drinking water safety. They can harbor opportunistic pathogen from disinfectants added to control pathogen. Since bacterial adhesion is the prerequisite for further propagation, understanding the mechanisms of bacterial adhesion on biofilm surface is important to prevent pathogen adhesion and reduce the risk to exposure in DWDS. In this study, bacterial size particles were used to model bacterial adhesion on simulated drinking water biofilms surfaces. Simulations on effects of Brownian motion and drag force on adhesion mechanism were conducted using COMSOL Multiphysics. The role of surface topography and roughness on particle deposition were determined through simulations on biofilm surfaces and artificial surfaces maintaining roughness or topography similar to biofilms. The simulation results showed that surface topography instead of roughness and associated hydrodynamic condition can affect particle adhesion tendency. Spatial analysis through semivariogram showed that the deposition location was not dominated by surface structure.
Graduation Semester
2015-12
Type of Resource
text
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/89239
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2015 Conghui Huang

Owning Collections

Graduate Dissertations and Theses at Illinois PRIMARY
Graduate Theses and Dissertations at Illinois
Dissertations and Theses - Civil and Environmental Engineering