Transport/mobility soil microorganisms

Electric fields use in soil restoration has been focused on contaminant extraction by their transport under electroosmosis and ionic migration. Contaminant extraction by electric fields is a successful technique for removal of ionic or mobile contaminants in the subsurface. However, this technique might not be effective in treatment of soils contaminated with immobile and/or trapped organics, such as dense non aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs). For such organics, it is possible to use electric fields to stimulate in situ biodegradation under either aerobic or anaerobic conditions. It is necessary to evaluate the impact of dc electric fields on the biogeochemical interactions prior to application of the technique. It is not clear yet how dc electric fields will impact microbial adhesion and transport in the subsurface. Further, the effect of dc fields on the activity of microorganisms in a soil matrix is not yet well understood. 

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