Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Yiwei Cheng, Bhavna Arora, S. Sevinc Sengor, Jennifer L. Druhan, Christoph Wanner, Boris M. van Breukelen, Carl Steefel
Summary: Microbially mediated sulfate reduction involves isotopic fractionation, with lighter sulfate isotopologues favored by sulfate-reducing bacteria. Isotopic shifts are used as a proxy for sulfate reduction onset in subsurface systems. A benchmark problem set has been developed for simulating kinetic sulfur isotope fractionation, exploring different mathematical formulations in RTMs. The simulation results from participating RTMs show reasonable agreement across all problem levels.
COMPUTATIONAL GEOSCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jie Gao, Tianliang Zheng, Yamin Deng, Hongchen Jiang
Summary: The study investigated the processes controlling arsenic mobilization under bacterial sulfate reduction in aquifer sediments, revealing the concurrent occurrence of sulfate, Fe(III), and arsenate reduction. The increase in abundance of sulfate-reducing bacteria facilitated sulfate reduction activity, while the limited ability of newly-formed Fe-sulfide minerals to sequester As led to a transient attenuation followed by re-increase of aqueous As.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Dake Xu, Tingyue Gu, Derek R. Lovley
Summary: In this review, the mechanisms of metal corrosion caused by microorganisms are examined and different strategies to prevent it are explored. The high diversity of microorganisms, typically forming biofilms, has been implicated in corrosion, which is a multi-trillion dollar problem annually. While aerobic microorganisms establish conditions that promote metal corrosion, anaerobes are mainly responsible for corrosion. Microbially produced organic acids, sulfide, and extracellular hydrogenases can accelerate the oxidation of metallic iron (Fe-0) coupled with hydrogen (H-2) production, as can anaerobic microorganisms using H-2 as an electron donor. Some bacteria and archaea directly accept electrons from Fe-0 through c-type cytochromes as an apparent outer-surface electrical contact with the metal. Functional genetic studies and omics studies are providing a better understanding of corrosion mechanisms and the microorganisms involved. Interdisciplinary studies on the interactions between microorganisms and metals in corrosive biofilms offer potential for developing technologies to detect and prevent corrosion.
NATURE REVIEWS MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Swamini Khurana, Falk Hesse, Anke Hildebrandt, Martin Thullner
Summary: The subsurface is a vital component of the Earth's critical zone, where biogeochemical transformations are crucial for nutrient cycling. Spatial heterogeneity influences groundwater microbial biomass distribution and nutrient cycling, neglecting its effects can lead to overestimation of nutrient removal.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mingyue Li, Anqi Fang, Xiaoli Yu, Keke Zhang, Zhili He, Cheng Wang, Yisheng Peng, Fanshu Xiao, Tony Yang, Wei Zhang, Xiafei Zheng, Qiuping Zhong, Xingyu Liu, Qingyun Yan
Summary: Microbially-driven sulfur cycling is a critical biogeochemical process in sulfur-rich mangrove ecosystems. This study reveals the diversity, composition, and structure of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in mangrove sediments, highlighting the important role of temperature, redox potential, and key factors like elemental sulfur and total carbon in influencing these microbial communities. Additionally, the morphological transformation of sulfur compounds explains the variations in sulfur cycling microbial communities, with specific dominant genus identified in different mangrove species. These findings shed light on the sulfur cycling dynamics in mangrove ecosystems and offer insights for similar wetland ecosystems from a microbial perspective.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Liya Wang, Leon van Paassen, Vinh Pham, Nariman Mahabadi, Jia He, Yunqi Gao
Summary: Microbially Induced Desaturation and Precipitation (MIDP) is a new ground improvement method that utilizes indigenous nitrate reducing bacteria to introduce biogas, biominerals, and biomass into soil. This study develops a numerical model to evaluate the effects of these components on soil hydraulic properties. The model incorporates biochemical conversions, changes in porosity and water saturation, and predicts changes in permeability. Comparing the results to other studies, it is found that the combined production of biogas, biomass, and biominerals leads to efficient clogging due to the formation of biogenic gas bubbles in larger pore bodies.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Petroleum
O. S. Klemetsdal, O. Moyner, A. Moncorge, H. M. Nilsen, K-A Lie
Summary: The new high-resolution method utilizes dynamic grid coarsening and local timestepping to provide resolution in time and space, applicable to complex fluid physics and reservoir geology models, reducing computational time while retaining high resolution.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Irina Sin, Laurent De Windt, Camille Banc, Patrick Goblet, David Dequidt
Summary: The first objective of this study is to present unique field data on a three-year pilot test of air injection into a natural gas reservoir, showing that oxygen was fully depleted several months after injection completion, while CO2(g) and sulfates increased temporarily but gradually returned to the near initial state. The second objective is to develop a multiphase reactive transport model based on the field data, which accurately reproduced the gas-water-rock reactive sequence and demonstrated that pyrite kinetics played a significant role in determining the gas composition and spatial extent of chemical reactions. The developed model has implications for other gas storage facilities and highlights the minimal impact of recommended oxygen contents on gas composition and reservoir geochemistry when efficient pH buffers are present.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Archana Yadav, Jenna C. Borrelli, Mostafa S. Elshahed, Noha H. Youssef
Summary: Genomic analysis of Acidobacteria family UBA6911 revealed that members are metabolically versatile heterotrophs capable of utilizing a wide range of carbon sources and have diverse respiratory capacities. Soil and nonsoil genera within the family exhibit distinct differences in genome characteristics and metabolic capabilities, highlighting the impact of terrestrialization on Acidobacteria evolution and niche adaptation.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Lihua Shao, Ru Ji, Shuyi Du, Hongqing Song
Summary: This study proposed three viscosity prediction models based on machine learning approaches, with the random forest (RF) model showing the most accurate predictions and fastest computing time. Sensitivity analysis revealed that different factors affect the viscosity of each phase in a reservoir, with oil viscosity being crucial for oil production and mainly influenced by the molar ratio of gas to oil (MR-GO).
Article
Energy & Fuels
Shuyuan Deng, Bo Wang, SanBao Su, Shanshan Sun, Yuehui She, Fan Zhang
Summary: This study investigated the field application of a bio-inhibitor (nitrate and nitrite injection) for souring control in an oilfield. The results showed that the bio-inhibitor effectively removed H2S from the injected water, leading to cost-effective treatments for souring control.
Article
Microbiology
Samantha G. Fortin, Bongkeun Song, Iris C. Anderson
Summary: This study found that denitrification is the primary process for nitrogen removal in the York River Estuary, while DNRA is the main process for nitrogen retention. Denitrification rates are strongly correlated with concentrations of organic matter, nitrate and chlorophyll a, while DNRA rates are best correlated with the relative abundance of specific bacterial families carrying the nrfA gene.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Water Resources
Ricardo H. Deucher, Hamdi A. Tchelepi
Summary: An adaptive scheme for sequential reactive transport involving two fluid phases is presented in this study. The domain is decomposed into coarse gridblocks and transport problems are defined and solved on each of these blocks, using a prolongation operator for accurate reconstruction of fine-scale solutions. The prolongation operator is independent of chemical reactions details, providing implementation flexibility and applicability to various conditions.
ADVANCES IN WATER RESOURCES
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Danchen Li, Ye Zhang, Zunsheng Jiao, Soheil Saraji
Summary: This study digitally reconstructed a three-dimensional tight sandstone core and conducted multiphase flow simulations to evaluate the performance of different injection strategies for carbon dioxide (CO2) flooding. The simulations closely replicated the laboratory-tested procedures and provided realistic fluid distributions. The saturation functions for CO2 injection after water flooding were determined, and critical enhanced oil recovery operational parameters were optimized to maximize CO2 displacement performance. Both water alternative gas (WAG) injection and cyclic CO2 injection were found to be effective for oil recovery in the tight reservoir.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ruixia Han, Zhe Wang, Jitao Lv, Zhe Zhu, Guang-Hui Yu, Gang Li, Yong-Guan Zhu
Summary: Microbially mediated iron redox processes play a significant role in biogeochemical cycles. Soil organic matter (SOM) affects these processes, but a comprehensive understanding is still lacking. This study examined the role of SOM in microbial iron reduction and hydroxyl radical production. The results show that SOM inhibits the transformation of ferrihydrite to crystalline iron oxides and affects Fe(II) and center dot OH production through different mechanisms.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Political Science
Xu Wu, Tomas Marin Del Valle, Liange Zheng, Yan Shi, Yuanyuan Du, Weidong Luo
Summary: Effective regulations of carbon productivity at the sectoral level offer a practical path to implement cost-effective CO2 reduction measures. This study assessed the changes in carbon productivity of 41 economic sectors in Zhejiang Province, China, from 2010 to 2017 and identified the driving factors behind these changes. The study found that factors such as electricity consumption, projects completed and put into use, water use efficiency, foreign investment, and floor space of buildings were major contributors to the changes in sectoral carbon productivity. Improvements in electricity consumption infrastructure and institutions, project approval procedures efficiency, water resource utilization, and low-carbon investment in fixed assets at the sectoral level were recommended.
JOURNAL OF CHINESE GOVERNANCE
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Dipankar Dwivedi, Carl Steefel, Bhavna Arora, Jill Banfield, John Bargar, Maxim Boyanov, Scott C. Brooks, Xingyuan Chen, Susan S. Hubbard, Dan Kaplan, Kenneth M. Kemner, Peter S. Nico, Edward J. O'Loughlin, Eric M. Pierce, Scott L. Painter, Timothy D. Scheibe, Haruko M. Wainwright, Kenneth H. Williams, Mavrik Zavarin
Summary: This paper reviews the extensive research conducted by the US Department of Energy at representative sites and testbeds, exploring the distribution of contaminants and nutrients in water resources and their interactions with carbon and nitrogen dynamics. The paper also describes state-of-the-art characterization approaches and models for predicting contaminant fate and transport.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Feng Cheng, Nathaniel J. Lindsey, Valeriia Sobolevskaia, Shan Dou, Barry Freifeld, Todd Wood, Stephanie R. James, Anna M. Wagner, Jonathan B. Ajo-Franklin
Summary: This study investigates the feasibility of monitoring permafrost using permanently installed fiber-optic seismic networks. The results show that this method can accurately monitor the changes in permafrost and provide a basis for the design and development of early warning systems for permafrost thaw.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Water Resources
Emilio Grande, Bhavna Arora, Ate Visser, Maya Montalvo, Anna Braswell, Erin Seybold, Corianne Tatariw, Kathryn Beheshti, Margaret Zimmer
Summary: Salt marshes play a crucial role in nutrient processing and are important for sensitive coastal environments. However, our understanding of the spatiotemporal variability of critical biogeochemical drivers in salt marshes is limited. This study highlights the importance of high-frequency in situ measurements, such as monitoring redox potential, in explaining the factors that govern subsurface biogeochemistry and hydrological processes in salt marshes.
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2022)
Article
Water Resources
Charuleka Varadharajan, Alison P. Appling, Bhavna Arora, Danielle S. Christianson, Valerie C. Hendrix, Vipin Kumar, Aranildo R. Lima, Juliane Mueller, Samantha Oliver, Mohammed Ombadi, Talita Perciano, Jeffrey M. Sadler, Helen Weierbach, Jared D. Willard, Zexuan Xu, Jacob Zwart
Summary: The global decline in water quality in rivers and streams has created an urgent need for new watershed management strategies. Machine learning can aid in developing more accurate, computationally tractable, and scalable models for analyzing and predicting river water quality. When combined with decades of process understanding, machine learning has the potential to address water quality problems effectively.
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Bin Dong, Alex Popescu, Veronica Rodriguez Tribaldos, Suren Byna, Jonathan Ajo-Franklin, Kesheng Wu, Imperial Valley Dark Fiber Team
Summary: Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) is an emerging sensing technology with high spatial and temporal resolution. However, the large data size poses challenges for compression and storage. This paper proposes two compression methods to reduce storage requirements and demonstrates their effectiveness in real-time and post-hoc scenarios.
COMPUTERS & GEOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Chun Chang, Sharon Borglin, Chunwei Chou, LianGe Zheng, Yuxin Wu, Timothy J. Kneafsey, Seiji Nakagawa, Marco Voltolini, Jens T. Birkholzer
Summary: A bench-scale experiment was conducted to investigate the behavior of bentonite under high temperatures and its coupled THMC processes. The results showed that the hydration process was axi-symmetrical, but there were density variations and potential risks of sulfate precipitation at high temperatures. These findings provide valuable insights for improving modeling and designing more economical repositories for high-level radioactive waste.
APPLIED CLAY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Lucien Stolze, Bhavna Arora, Dipankar Dwivedi, Carl Steefel, Zhi Li, Sergio Carrero, Benjamin Gilbert, Peter Nico, Markus Bill
Summary: The weathering of shale plays a crucial role in the hydrochemical fluxes to river systems and has a significant impact on global biogeochemical cycles. However, there is still a lack of quantitative understanding regarding shale weathering and its influence on these cycles due to the complex interactions between hydrological, biogeochemical, and physical processes. In this study, a novel modeling approach was developed to quantitatively interpret the long-term chemical weathering of shale and its effect on geochemical conditions. The model considers multiple processes involved in shale weathering, including infiltration of meteoric water, mineral-water interactions, microbial oxidation of organic matter, mineral reactions-induced evolution of porosity, and gas exchange between the subsurface and atmosphere.
GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Feng Cheng, Jianghai Xia, Zongbo Xu, Jonathan B. Ajo-Franklin
Summary: Passive seismic methods, specifically linear arrays, are being widely used in highly populated urban areas. These methods commonly include non-interferometric and interferometric techniques. While the interferometric methods have been proven to be effective in retrieving Green's function between inter-station pairs, there is a lack of theoretical proof for the accuracy of non-interferometric methods. This study aims to provide a comprehensive comparison and theoretical understanding of both types of methods in different noise source environments.
GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Zack J. Spica, Jonathan Ajo-Franklin, Gregory C. Beroza, Biondo Biondi, Feng Cheng, Beatriz Gaite, Bin Luo, Eileen Martin, Junzhu Shen, Clifford Thurber, Loic Viens, Herbert Wang, Andreas Wuestefeld, Han Xiao, Tieyuan Zhu
Summary: DAS has become a valuable tool for recording seismic wavefields, but the large amount of data generated limits their distribution. PubDAS is the first large-scale open-source repository sharing multiple DAS datasets from various geological settings, covering days to years of recordings totaling up to around 90 TB of data. This article introduces the datasets, their metadata, and access/download instructions. Some datasets remain unexplored, providing potential for new discoveries in Earth sciences and beyond.
SEISMOLOGICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Xuejian Liu, Tieyuan Zhu, Jonathan Ajo-Franklin
Summary: Predicting the behavior, geometry, and flow properties of subsurface fractures is challenging due to the low spatiotemporal resolution of seismic models. In this study, a correlative double-difference time-lapse full waveform inversion method is developed to determine high-resolution time-lapse V-p models of in-situ fracture evolution. The results show that high-resolution V-p changes are indicative of mechanical and fluid changes within the fracture zone during hydrofracturing.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Civil
Bhavna Arora, Sylvain Kuppel, Christopher Wellen, Claire Oswald, Jannis Groh, Dahedrey Payandi-Rolland, James Stegen, Sarah Coffinet
Summary: The critical zone (CZ) is a complex system that combines natural and human elements, and understanding it requires cross-site cross-network collaborations. This review highlights the limitations of individual CZ observatories and advocates for a collaborative approach to studying the CZ. Various existing initiatives, tools, and techniques are discussed, along with the challenges and possible solutions for data harmonization and integration of social sciences.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Benjamin Gilbert, Sergio Carrero, Wenming Dong, Claresta Joe-Wong, Bhavna Arora, Patricia Fox, Peter Nico, Kenneth H. Williams
Summary: Daily measurements of river concentration of thorium (Th) provide novel insights into bedrock fracture processes. River Th concentrations show distinct patterns, uncorrelated with precipitation or atmospheric deposition. There is a weak statistical correlation between Th and seismic motion caused by distant earthquakes.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Feng Cheng, Jonathan B. Ajo-Franklin, Avinash Nayak, Veronica Rodriguez Tribaldos, Robert Mellors, Patrick Dobson
Summary: We utilize distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) and ambient noise interferometry to image the geothermal reservoirs in Imperial Valley, California, using unlit fiber-optic telecommunication infrastructure (dark fiber). By applying ambient noise interferometry to DAS records, we obtain a high-resolution two-dimensional (2D) S wave velocity (V-s) structure to a depth of 3 km. We discover a high V-s and low V-p/V-s ratio feature beneath the Brawley geothermal system, indicating hydrothermal mineralization and lower porosity.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Touyee Thao, Bhavna Arora, Teamrat A. A. Ghezzehei
Summary: The application of biochar in agricultural systems has been widely studied. This study assesses the long-term effects of biochar application on soil water and plant interactions in tomato and pasture cropping systems. The results show that biochar application can increase soil water availability and improve water use efficiency. However, the effects on irrigation systems differ from rainfed systems.
VADOSE ZONE JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Shaofeng Zhou, Wenwen An, Cuifen Gan, Meiying Xu
Summary: Bacteria generate and release extracellular reactive oxygen species (eROS), which significantly contribute to the natural ROS pool and play a crucial role in metabolic interactions of bacteria with their environment. Understanding the behavior of eROS-generating bacteria and its environmental implications is of great importance in the cycling of biogeochemical elements, transformation of organic matter, and regulation of antibiotic resistance genes.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2024)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ji-Dong Gu, Tim Ford, Bryce Mitton, Ralph Mitchell
Summary: Plastics and microplastics are widely present and accumulating in the environment, leading to increasing public attention. In addition to packaging plastics, materials from industries such as electronics, space and aviation are also accumulating, but receiving less attention. The production of degradable and biodegradable plastics is seen as a way to reduce environmental impacts, but enhancing the non-degradability of functional polymers is also a feasible option. Microbial colonization and deterioration pose significant challenges to these materials.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2024)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Justyna Bohacz, Michal Mozejko
Summary: This study evaluated the keratinolytic activity of 37 strains of Trichophyton ajelloi and found that pigmented strains isolated from loamy soil were more efficient in degrading native feather keratin, while non-pigmented strains isolated from chernozem showed better abilities. The keratinolytic activity increased over time, as evidenced by the increase in extracellular keratinase activity and release of soluble proteins and peptides. Protease activity peaked in the first 7 days and again on day 28 of culture. The release of ammonium and sulfate ions, associated with an increase in pH, reached its maximum on day 21. Three pigment-producing strains were among the most active in releasing large amounts of ammonium and sulfate ions. The biodegradation of feather waste by Trichophyton ajelloi strains can be used to produce fertilizers suitable for plants with high sulfur requirements.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2024)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Joseph M. Suflita, Brenda J. Little
Summary: This article reviews the major achievements of the International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation Society (IBBS) on its 50th anniversary and provides recommendations for addressing new challenges and developments based on personal experiences.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2024)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Zhenyan Lin, Tuo Jin, Xin Xu, Xiao Yin, Dan Zhang, Mengjiao Geng, Chunyu Pang, Gongwen Luo, Lizhi Xiong, Jianwei Peng, Jiangchi Fei
Summary: The incomplete recycle of residual mulch film (RMF) in recent years has led to an increase in plastic fragments in soil, posing a serious threat to the soil ecological environment. In this study, seven potential plastic-degrading microorganisms were screened and identified from film-mulched vegetable fields. The degradation ability experiments showed that both single strains and mixed strains demonstrated varying levels of degradation of RMF.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2024)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Tiina Belt, Michael Altgen, Muhammad Awais, Martin Nopens, Lauri Rautkari
Summary: This study investigated the degradation of heat-treated wood by brown rot fungi and found that the decay increased the hygroscopicity of wood in the decaying state. Furthermore, it was observed that heat-treated samples were more susceptible to fungal decay compared to untreated samples, which may be related to the increase in moisture content.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2024)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Marta Cicardi, Davide Bernasconi, Luca Martire, Linda Pastero, Giulia Caneva, Sergio E. Favero-Longo
Summary: This study investigated the phenomenon of Centimetric circular areas Uncolonized by Microbial Biofilms (CUMBs) on natural and heritage stone surfaces. The analysis revealed a compatibility in distribution and size between CUMBs and lichen thalli, suggesting a lichen origin for some CUMBs. Microscopic analysis also showed similar modifications in marble layers beneath CUMBs and lichens, indicating a possible alteration of stone properties by lichens.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2024)
