Role of Biogeochemical Processes during Groundwater Deferrization

Abstract—The paper is devoted to the biogeochemical aspects of the treatment of iron-bearing groundwater, which are associated with the formation of biofouling in the pore space around wells after aeration of the aquifer and on technological equipment. Structure and activity characteristics of microbial complexes as a result of pumping groundwater from production and observation wells under changing redox conditions are presented. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the microstructure and elemental composition of biofilm growths. It has been established that the accumulation of iron and manganese by microbial biomass occurs due to the encrustation of the surface of bacterial cells immersed in a polymer matrix represented by a constant base of three elements: Al, Si, and Ca. The survival of microbial complexes in biofouling is due to the high natural potential and ability to carry out biogeochemical processes in a wide range of oxygen concentrations (aerobic and anaerobic conditions).