Contrasting transport and fate of hydrophilic and hydrophobic bacteria in wettable and water-repellent porous media: Straining or attachment?

Bacterial transport and retention likely depend on bacterial and soil surface properties, especially hydrophobicity. We used a controlled experimental setup to explore hydrophilic Escherichia coli (E. coli) and hydrophobic Rhodococcus erythropolis (PTCC1767) (R. erythropolis) transport through dry (− 15,000 cm water potential) and water saturated (0 cm water potential) wettable and water-repellent sand columns. A pulse of bacteria (1 × 108 CFU mL–1) and bromide (10 mmol L–1) moved through the columns under saturated flow (0 cm) for four pore volumes. A second bacteria and bromide pulse was then poured on the column surfaces and leaching was extended six more pore volumes. In dry wettable sand attachment dominated E. coli retention, whereas R. erythropolis was dominated by straining. Once wetted, the dominant retention mechanisms flipped between these bacteria. Attachment by either bacteria decreased markedly in water-repellent sand, so straining was the main retention mechanism. We explain this from capillary potential energy, which enhanced straining under the formation of water films at very early times (i.e., imbibing) and film thinning at much later times (i.e., draining). The interaction between the hydrophobicity of bacteria and soil on transport, retention and release mechanisms needs greater consideration in predictions. [Display omitted] •Bacteria infiltrated into porous media from dry to wetted conditions.•E. coli attached and R. erythropolis strained in dry wettable sand.•E. coli strained and R. erythropolis attached in wet wettable sand.•Straining occurred for bacteria in dry and wet water-repellent sand.•R. erythropolis was trapped in and released from water films sooner than E. coli.