Bioconvection in Porous Media: The Effect of Small Particles

Abstract

A linear stability analysis is performed to investigate the effect of small particles on the stability of a suspension of motile gyrotactic
microorganisms in a horizontal porous fluid layer. Small solid particles which are heavier than water are added into the fluid layer whenbioconvection has already attained its steady state. If bioconvection develops, it enhances mixing and slows down the settling of particles.  This problem may be relevant to a number of applications in bioengineering such as microbial enhanced oil Recovery (MEOR), a biological based technology used to improve the recovery of oil entrapped in porous media.