ADSORPTION OF BACTERIA ON SOILS:

Experiments, Thermodynamic Rationale, and Application

D A V I D W. H E N D R I C K S
Department o f Civil Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80525 U.S.A.
F R E D E R I C K J. P O S T
Department o f Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT84322 U.S.A.
and
D E O R A O R. K H A I R N A R
Deceased;formerly Research Associate, Utah Water Research Laboratory, Utah State University,
Logan, UT843222 U.S.A.

(Received 5 May, 1979; revised 16 May, 1979)

Abstract. A model for the adsorption of bacteria to soil particles is described using the physical-chemical
Langmuir isotherm and the van't Hoff equation. An example of the use of the model for assessing bacterial
movement through soil is provided. Staphylococcus aureus was the sorbate with sorbents of activated
charcoal, kaolinite clay, Mendon silt loam, and silica sand. Competitive agents sodium lauryl sulfate,
sodium chloride, and peptone were also studied. Peptone was the most successful competitor with the
bacteria for sites on the sorbent.

1, Introduction

The extent to which bacteria and viruses travel through soils has been a question of great
interest for many years to sanitary engineers and others interested in public health. It has
significance in determining the basic strategies for public health protection of ground
waters, e.g. should all forms of ground disposal of wastewaters be prohibited, should
there be a case by case evaluation, or should there be no regulation?
It also has practical interest relative to such concerns as: (1) What degree of wastewater
treatment should be required prior to injection into ground water aquifers? (2) How
much prior treatment is needed for land disposal of wastewaters? (3) Should widespread
use of septic tanks be permitted in communities dependent upon ground water? or,
(4) Should wastewater treatment ponds be lined so as to make them water-tight? The
engineering approach to these questions is empirical. One may ascertain by measurement
and observation whether problems are present in existing situations and recommend a
regulatory strategy, accordingly. A complimentary experimental approach would be to
set up a soil column, injecting the water in question and observe the reduction in
bacteria or virus count at the other end. Rational or science based approaches are not
developed far for practical use.
As a result of observations and experiments reported in the literature over many years
(Krone et al., 1958; AWWA, 1960; Robeck et al., 1962; Drewry and Eliassen, 1968) it is
generally accepted that bacteria and viruses are significantly reduced in number by travel
through porous media, especially if a clay fraction is present. The theory necessary to

Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 12(1979) 219-232. 0049-6979/79/0122-0219 $02.10

Copyright 9 1979 by D. Reidel Publishing Co., Dordrecht, Holland, and Boston, U.S.A.
220 O~ W. H E N D R I C K S E T A L .

explain the retention phenomenon is not well developed, though adsorption and
mechanical sieving are the most often suggested mechanisms. It has been established by
several investigators (Cookson and North, 1967; Cookson, 1969; Marshall, 1976; Roper
and Marshall, 1978) that adsorption is at least one mechanism. One can plot the uptake
of small particles, e.g. bacteria and viruses, in terms of adsorption isotherm relations.
The research reported here provides additional experimental data coupled with a
theoretical rationale to support the adsorption theory. While a comprehensive predictive
mathematical model is not envisaged, a better theoretical understanding of the adsorption
mechanism can aid practical engineering work a great deal. It can provide a rationale for
explaining the adsorption behavior of aqueous suspensions of bacteria in contact with
granular particles such as soils and activated charcoal. Such a rationale can facilitate the
making of predictive judgements about what might occur relative to the travel of
bacteria or viruses through porous media.
The primary purpose of the research was to ascertain whether bacterial adsorption
could be described in terms of classical thermodynamic theory. This was done by
attempting to fit thermodynamic models to experimental data from a water suspension.
How such a model may be applied to practical situations for evaluating the capacity of
soils to adsorb bacteria from wastewater is then illustrated.

2. Methods

The uptake of bacterial cells from the suspended phase to the adsorbed phase was
determined by measuring the depletion of cells from a bacterial suspension compared to
a control. A bacterial depletion experiment consisted of the following steps: (1) Four
3000-ml beakers, each containing 1900 ml of distilled water, were placed in a constant-
temperature water bath. (2) Stirring was started using magnetic stirring bars placed in
the beakers. (3) Bacterial cells were added to each of the four beakers (labeled a to d) to
give the same initial cell concentration in beakers a (the control) and b, and different
cell concentrations in c and d. Samples of 1 ml were removed from each beaker and the
initial concentration of cells was determined. (4) Ten g of sterile adsorbent suspended in
100 ml of distilled water were added to beakers b, c and d. This became 'time equals zero'
for the experiment. (5) Samples of 1 ml were then withdrawn at 5, 15, 30, 45, and 60 min
to determine the bacterial concentration. (6) Bacterial concentrations were determined
by the membrane filter technique after appropriate serial dilution. Incubation was at
37~ on Brain Heart Infusion broth. (7) Colony counts were made using a steromicro-
scope at 30x with the counts recorded directly on specially printed computer data
coding sheets.

2.1. CALCULATIONS
The number of bacterial cells remaining in the bacteria-adsorbent suspension was
plotted against elapsed time giving a bacterial depletion curve (lower curve, Figure 1).
 ADSORPTION OF BACTERIA ON SOILS 221

~" 80 105
0 g
(D
o
70 I00
&

c 60 & XBAR (XBARSTAR = 6 . 5 ~' I 0 9 ) 95

. Y=X/(8.618| -II + 1 . 4 9 9 t ' 1 0 "10 *X) "x
Io
o
50 9O

e 40 85
o

30 80

-~
o
20
r
\ Q SOLUTION CONC. (CSTAR = 6 . 9
Y:lO.-5 -X/(2.075,I0"8+3.167o10

r
" 1071
"8,,(X)) 75

70
Z
CD
t---

o~
CD
az
x
0 65 CO
0 10 2b 3b 4b 50 60
TIME (rain)
Fig. ]. Staphylococcus aureus F D A 209 depletion from suspension and u p t a k e by M e n d o n silt l o a m at
27~ sample result of 400 such tests.

The horizontal asymptote on this curve was taken as the equilibrium cell concentration
in the suspended phase, designated as C* (cells per ml of suspension). The number of
cells depleted from the bacteria-adsorbent suspension was assumed to be adsorbed on
the adsorbent since the control beaker showed no depletion within the test period. The
number of cells adsorbed per gram of adsorbent, X" (upper curve, Figure 1), at a given
sampling time was calculated by the relation:

x=(co-c), v
W

in which X = the number of cells adsorbed per gram of adsorbent at a given sampling
time; Co = the initial cell concentration (cells ml-~); C = the cell concentration (cells ml -l)
at the given sampling time; V= volume (ml) of water in the experimental beaker at the
time of sampling; and W= weight of adsorbent in g.
The horizontal asymptote on the uptake curve (upper curve in Figure 1) was taken as
the solid phase equilibrium concentration of bacteria, designated as X* (cells g-1 of
adsorbent in suspension).
Plots such as those shown in Figure 1 were generated by computer for each experimental
test performed. These numbered about 400, coveting different types of adsorbents and
the effects of different solutes as competitors.

2.2. DATA PROCESSING

All basic data, consisting of a description of experimental conditions and counts of
bacteria, were recorded directly on the data coding forms. Summaries of complete
222 D. W. HENDRICKSE T A L .

information about the experiment and its results were printed out along with the
computer drawings of the depletion and uptake curves. This effectively 'automated' the
data processing, avoiding many tedious hours of manual calculation and possible errors
in calculation of the large number of depletion and uptake curves. Figure 1 was generated
in this manner. In addition, the equilibrium data, derived from each flask was recorded
on data coding forms. These data were processed in accordance with the Langmuir
adsorption isotherm, theory yielding computer generated tabular summaries and plots
as described subsequently.

2.3. R A N G E OF EXPERIMENTS

Bacterial adsorption experiments were conducted using one strain of Staphylococ~s

aureus FDA 209, a gram-positive coccus, selected because it was similar to many soil
organisms. It was also stable in distilled water, was nonmotile and thus did not exhibit
chemotaxis, was spherical and declumped readily and therefore it was easy to prepare
uniform suspensions for this type of experiment. In addition, it was not known to form
adhesion bridges with attachment sites (Marshall, 1976) which would complicate
adsorption studies.
Four adsorbents were studied, a granular activated charcoal (Filtrasorb 400),
kaolinite clay, Mendon silt loam, and a silica sand. Some characteristics of each are
presented in Table I.

TABLE I
Characteristics of adsorbents

Mean particle Surface area

Granular media diameter (ram) (m 2 g-l)
Activated charcoal 0.9 800-900
(Filtrasorb 400)
Kaolinite clay 0.001 12
Mendon silt loam 0.01 6 0 - 80
Silica sand 0.53 0.0055

Three competitive agents - sodium lauryl sulfate, peptone, and sodium chloride - were
used in experiments with Mendon silt loam to determine the effect these additional
environmental factors might have on bacterial adsorption.
Equilibrium adsorption data were obtained at four temperatures, 10~ 20~ 27~
and 37~ for each of the seven bacteria-adsorbent systems tested. This resulted in 28
(C* X*) equilibrium data sets. Each data set consisted of 5 to 20 pairs of (C* X*) data.

2.4. ANALYSIS OF DATA

The reaction equation for adsorption of bacteria may be written:
Bacteria + Sorbent ~ Bacteria. Sorbent (1)
 ADSORPTION OF BACTERIA ON SOILS 223

Designating bacteria as B, X as the sorbent, and X as the bacteria-sorbent complex,

Equation (1) is rewritten:
B + X'~ X AH ~ (2)

where A H ~ is the standard state enthalpy of the reaction. To keep the discussion less
involved, the roles of solvent and competitive solutes are ignored.
The final equilibrium distribution of reactants and products can be stated:
X*
. = - - - (3)
C'X*

in which c~= the reaction equilibrium constant (ml/sites availabIe); X*= equilibrium
concentration of cells adsorbed per g of soil; C*= equilibrium solution concentration of
hydrated bacteria (cells m1-1); and X* = equilibrium concentration of hydrated adsorption
sites unoccupied by bacteria (sites g-l).
Now the total number of adsorption sites per gram of adsorbent X,~ is the sum of
those sites both occupied, X* and unoccupied, X* Thus it can be stated that

X m= X* + X*. (4)

Substituting Equation (4) into Equation (3) and rearranging gives:

X * / X , , = ~C*/(1 + ~C*) (5)
which is the usual algebraic arrangement for the well known Langmuir isotherm.
Another rearrangement will allow the equation to be stated in the 'linearized' form:

X * / X m = C / X m + 1 / ~Xm (6)

Using this form of the equation, a plot of the variables C * / X * vs C* can be made.
Measurements of the slope and intercept of this plot will yield the constants Xm and :r
respectively.
Each of the sets of equilibrium data, i.e. the (C* X*) data sets were analyzed and
plotted in accordance with Equation (6). A least squares analysis was used to obtain the
best fit straight line which then permitted Xm and ~ to be determined. Table II is a
computer-generated table showing the analysis of equilibrium data for one of the (C* X*)
data sets. Figure 2 shows the corresponding computer plot done according to Equation (6)
while Figure 3 is the conventional plot for the Langmuir isotherm according to Equation
(5). This computer analysis and the corresponding plots were performed for each of the
28 experimental data sets (i.e. seven sorbate-sorbent combinations each conducted at
four temperatures).
A further step involves analysis of the isotherm data in terms of the van't Hoff
equation:
AH o
lna- RT +C (7)
224 D. W. HENDRICKSETAL.

TABLE I1
Determination of A L P H A lc~) and XMAX, (Xm) by regression analysis of
[inearized Langmuir isotherm equilibrium data between Staphylococcus aureus
FDA 209 as the sorbate and Mendon silt loam as the sorbent at 37~
Illustration of one data set.

Regression analysis of linearized isotherm - Results

R = 0.996
R z= 0.992

Y INTERCEPT = 1/(ALPHA*XMAX) =0.214552-03

SLOPE OF BEST FIT =0.356693 - 1 0
ALPHA = 0.166251 - 0 6
XMAX =0.280353 + 11

Based upon equilibrium data from individual runs:

Run C* XBAR* C*/XBAR*
1 0.80000 + 08 0.25000 + 11 0.32000 - 02
2 0.55000+08 0.25000+11 0.22000-02
3 0.33000+08 0.25000+11 0.13200-02
4 0.20000 + 08 0.24000 + 11 0.83333 - 0 3
8 0.15000+09 0.28000+1t 0.53571 - 0 2
9 0.10000+09 0.25000+11 0.40000-02

60

i
(D 50

II
40

O3
Pc" :30

20

I---
O3 10
0
f
CSYAR(bacterla/ml) i 10 7

Fig. 2. Linearized Langmuir isotherm; sorbate Staphylococcus aureus FDA 209, sorbent Mendon silt
loam, 37~ From data in Table II.
 ADSORPTION OF BACTERIA ON SOILS 225

30
o~
O

25

r
20
to

15

0 XBARSTAR
I0 Y=X/(0.214,10-3+0.357 o10 "IO,X)
[12

O9 5
122
CI3
X
i i
o 8 ib 12 14 20
CSTAR(baeterla/ml) * 10 7
Fig, 3. L a n g m m r isotherm; sorbate Staphylococcus aureus F D A 209, sorbent Mendon silt loam, 37~
Line equation from Table II: Y= X/(0.214552 • 10 3) + (0.356693 • 10-10)(X),

in which ZlH~ state enthalpy of reaction (cal mole-'); R = g a s constant

(1.99 cal mole -1 K-l); T= absolute temperature in degrees Kelvin; and C = a constant.
The common log form is

ZIH ~ t
log~=-2.3R T +C" (8)

The four a values obtained at the temperatures of 10 ~ 20 ~ 27 ~ and 37~ were plotted
against 1/ T as indicated in Equation (8) for each of the seven bacteria-sorbent systems.
Figure 4 is such a plot for one of the seven systems which illustrates the concept. If one
has confidence that the R value of 1.99 cal mole -1 K-~ can be used as the proper constant,
then a value for ZIH ~ for the system can be derived from the plot as seen. Since the
adsorbate is particulate, however, there is the question about the constant R, to whit:
Is this the correct constant to use? Until that question is cleared up it would probably be
more appropriate to think in terms of zfHO/R instead of ZIH ~ While we have not done
this in order to develop the logic of the work more easily, the caution should be kept
in mind.

3. R ~

The adsorption data for each of the seven bacteria-sorbent systems was analyzed in
accordance with the foregoing procedures. The results of the analyses are summarized in
Table III including regression coefficients, R 2 for the least squares fit of the linearized
226 19. W. H E N D R I C K S E T A L .

Ir
.~L
20 Slope=-zxH" / (2.3 R) = - 1 . 8 5 " 1 0 3

:I:
EL
J

3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8

lIT " I0 -a (*K -I)
Fig. 4. Evaluation of standard state enthalpy, ZIH~ for Mendon silt loam - Staphylococcus aureus FDA 209
adsorption system using van 't Hoff's equation.

Langmuir isotherm, the Langmuir isotherm coefficients, C, ~, and Xm and the values
obtained from the van't Hoff plots, AH~ and ZIS~

4. Discussion

Three areas of interest are pertinent to the discussion. They include: (1) the validity of
chemical thermodynamic models to bacterial adsorption; (2) the empirical results; and,
(3) their practical application. Also, it is worthwhile to note that in planning the research
it was not at all clear whether the bacterial colony counting technique was sufficiently
accurate to define an adsorption isotherm. Fortunately, careful attention to the details
of the technique gave results providing very good resolution.

4.1. VALIDITYOF THE THERMODYNAMICMODELS

The purpose of the research was to ascertain the validity of classical thermodynamic
models to explain the phenomenon of bacterial adsorption. First, with respect to
equilibrium, the Langmuir isotherms were constructed for 24 sets of equilibrium data,
i.e. for six different bacteria-adsorbent systems, each at four different temperatures.
The R 2 regression coefficients for the fits of equilibrium bacterial adsorption data to the
Langmuir equation, Table III, are sufficiently high to establish the validity of the fits.
 ADSORPTION OF BACTERIA ON SOILS 227

TABLE llI
Bacterial a d s o r p t i o n experimental results

Xm ~ ~ AH o AF'O
(cells g - l ) (ml cell -1) (1 m o l e -1) (kcal AS ~ (kcal
R2 • 1010 • 10 -7 • 1013 mole -1) (e.u) mole - l )
Sorbent Sorbate(s) (a) ~ (a) (a) (a,b) (c) (d) (e)
Activated S. aureus 0.813 10 0,450 1.34 8.07 9.80 97.0 - 17.6
charcoal 0.805 20 0,615 1.86 11.2 - 18.6
(Filtrasorb- 0.834 27 0.498 !0.5 63.2 - 19.3
400) 0.960 27 0.848 5.8 35.0 -20.2
Kaolinite clay S. aureus 0.300 10 41.4 0.I74 1.04 3.60 72.0 - 16.8
0.712 20 42.2 0.202 1.22 -17.5
0.616 27 47.5 0.200 1.20 -18.2
0.636 37 33.0 0.356 2.14 - 18.7
M e n d o n silt S. aureus 0.001 10 1.10 0.516 3.10 8.50 92.0 -17.5
loam 0.961 20 1.49 0.845 5.10 - 18.5
0.587 27 2.00 1.34 8.07 - 19. t
0.992 37 2.80 1.66 10.00 - 19.9
Mendonsilt S. aureus 0.000 10 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.72 79.0 -
loam + 0.903 20 1.05 3.54 21.3 - 19A
Na-lauryl 0.687 27 0.916 4.06 24.4 -20.0
sulfate 0.892 37 1.54 4.56 27.4 -20.8
M e n d o n silt S. aureus 0,000 10 0,000 0.00 0.0 24.0 145.0 -
loam + 0.972 20 0.110 2,46 14.8 -18.5
peptone 0.772 27 0.204 1.19 7.17 - 19.5
0.985 37 0.i31 7.62 46,0 -21.0
M e n d o n silt S. aureus 0.543 10 2.38 0.052 0,312 23.0 I38.0 - 16.0
loam + 0.983 20 0.909 0.611 3.68 -17.5
NaCI 0.669 27 7.38 0.375 2.25 - 18.5
0,959 37 0.942 0.788 4.75 - 19.7
Silica sand S. aureus 0.0 10 0.0 0.0 0.0 - - + oc
0.0 20 0.0 0.0 0.0 - - +ec
0.0 37 0.0 0.0 0.0 - - +cc

aCalculated by regression analysis using the linear t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of the L a n g m u i r isotherm:

( C * / X * = 1 / ~ X m + l / X m • C * ) E q u a t i o n (6).
b C o m p u t e r regression analysis gives ~ in ml cell - I, Table II. The conversion to I m o l e - l of cells is achieved as
follows: using activated charcoal at 10~ as a n example: ~ = 1.34 x 10 -7 mt cell -1 • 6.023 • 1023 cells mole -1
• 1 1/103 = 8.07 • 1013 t tool - l o f cells.
CEvaluated by m e a s u r e m e n t of slope o f the experimental plot for: log c~= - A H O / 2 . 3 R • 1 / T + A S O / 2 . 3 R ) .
dObtained f r o m y-axis intercept at 1/ T = 0, Figure 4.
eCalculated by equation, A F o = A H o - T A S o using values o f T, A H o, and A S ~ in this table.

Second, the ~cc, l / T ) data sets, though each set contains only four data points, seems
to fit the van't Hoff equation fairly well. With only four points for each plot, the curves
were fit by eye instead of the least squares technique. Two of the six data sets had almost
perfect fits. The other four had some scatter, but based on inspection of all plots, it
seems reasonably conclusive that the van't Hoff equation is applicable.
If the idea is accepted that bacterial adsorption is a reaction in the sense of reactants
and products, with each of the latter having a set of thermodynamic state variables, then
228 D.W. HENDR[CKSETAL.

it follows deductively also, that bacterial adsorption should follow the van't H o f f
relation. Further, it can be shown from the definition of the thermodynamic functions,
that the constant C in Equations (7) and (8) is really A S ~ where A S ~ is the standard
state entropy of reaction. From this zaF 0, the standard state free energy of reaction can
be calculated from the definition, A F ~ = A H ~ + T A S o. Values of both ZIS ~ and A F ~ are
given in Table III. The AS ~ values were derived graphically from the van't H o f f plots
while the zaF ~ values were calculated.
4.2. NUMERICAL RESULTS
The numerical results in Table III are of interest for two reasons: first, they provide
some actual values for the various constants to be used for whatever purpose; and second,
they represent the results of experiments with different systems. The results of interest in
Table III are plotted graphically in Figure 5 showing the constants Xm, ~, A H ~ and ZIS ~
for the different systems.
In Figure 5b the four Xm values for each system seem to cluster within a narrow range.
Taking an average Xm of the four this value is probably unique. The X~ values differ in
order of magnitude for the three basic sorbents studied. The effect of sodium lauryl
sulfate and sodium chloride is negligible on the S. a u r e u s - M e n d o n silt loam system, but
the addition of peptone, a hydrolyzed protein (casein), caused a ten-fold reduction.
Evidently the peptone occupies sites which would otherwise be available to the bacteria.
Figure 5d compared the different systems in terms of the ~ (20~ values derived from
the 20~ isotherm plots. The 20~ values were used because the regression coefficients
were very high as seen in Table III. Again, the differences between systems is marked.
Also, the effect of each of the competitor solutions is significant.
Figure 5a shows the effects of the different systems on ZIH ~ while Figure 5c shows
the effects on A S ~ Again, each system was different.
The key ideas which can be extracted from these observations are: (1) Each bacteria-
sorbent system has unique thermodynamic constants; and, (2) Dissolved substances,
especially organic material, have marked effects on each constant. The zero adsorption
of bacteria by silica sand should also be noted.
While it is not practical to test a wide variety of bacteria-sorbent-solute systems in
the manner outlined here, a little more variety using different bacteria and few other
sorbents would be useful as a basis for engineering estimates. Failing that, the results
given in Table III provide enough variety for one to speculate on the necessary constants
for use in making engineering estimates.

5. Application

The use of concepts from chemical equilibrium thermodynamics may pose 'blocks' to
some with respect to engineering applications, obscuring the simplicities involved. A
simple example of an application may help to delineate its usefulness in field situations.
 ADSORPTION OF BACTERIA ON SOILS 229

I00

0
0
~C
E ,"
c

0
&
o

in A 6
i
1.0
E
X Q

&
,Q -g- "I~ o 9
0.I O ,~ 0 ,,i m~
I00

~,-r
e
o

~o
II
o
E
o

~o
<I

O O
I.C

o o - o o. o., oo . - o . o . oo

k~
230 t), W. HENDRICKSE T A L .

5.1. EXAMPLE
Suppose a secondary treated effluent is to be given a final ' t r e a t m e n t ' by land spreading
at the application rate of 2 m yr -1. A s s u m e the total count o f bacteria in the wastewater
is 1000 m l - ' , and that the temperature of the soil is 15~ A s s u m e the t h e r m o d y n a m i c
characteristics derived f r o m the S. aureus-Mendon silt l o a m tests a p p r o x i m a t e the
system at hand.

5.2. SOLUTION
1. Calculate equilibrium constant ~,

log ct = -AHO/2.3R x 1/T+ AS~

= - 8500/(2.3 x 1.99) x 1/288 + 92.0/(2.3 x 1.99)

= - 6.448 + 20.100

= 13.652

~-4.5 • 10 '3 l i t r e / m o l e bacteria

convert ~ to ml/ceU (see footnote Table III)

ct = 7.47 x 10-s = (4.5 x 10'3)/(6.023 x 102~

2. Determine the bacterial a d s o r p t i o n capacity of the soil.

X * =Am a C * / ( 1 + a C*) where c( is in ml/cell

= 0.185 x 10 u x (7.47 x l0 s x 103)/(1 + 7.47 • 10 8 • 103)

= 0.185 x 10u x 0.0000747 / (1 + 0.0000747)

=0.138x107

X * = 1.38 x 106 bacteria a d s o r b e d / g r a m soil

3. Calculate depth o f soil utilization.

Let the w a t e r - s o i l column have a cross sectional area o f one square centimeter. The
n u m b e r o f bacteria contained in a 2 m high water c o l u m n 1 cm x 1 cm is:

No. o f bacteria in column = area x height x conc. o f bacteria

= 1 cm 2 • 200 cm x 1000 bacteria ml -~

= 200 000 bacteria

The a m o u n t o f soil needed to adsorb 200 000 bacteria is:

Soil weight needed = n u m b e r o f b a c t e r i a / X *

= (200000 bacteria)/(1.38 x 106 bacteria g-~ soil)

= 0.144 g soil
 ADSORPTION OF BACTERIA ON SOILS 231

If the soil density is 2.70 g cm -3 and, if the porosity is 0.35 then

depth of soil needed = (g of soil needed)/(density of soil x porosity x area)
= (0.144 g soii)/(2.70 g cm 3x (1-0.35) • 1 cm 2)

= 0.082 cm
=0.1 cm

In other words, a soil thickness of less than 0.1 cm has sufficient capacity to adsorb all
of the bacteria from one year's application of treated wastewater under the assumptions
stated. The bacteria adsorbed on the soil are in equilibrium with the bacteria in suspension
in the wastewater to this depth. Beyond the 0.1 cm depth both the water and the soil will
have continuously lower concentrations, dropping eventually to zero, defining bacterial
concentration-depth profiles for water and soil respectively. For an application rate of
2 m yr -1 of wastewater these profiles probably are not important. In most adsorption
experiments in beakers, the equilibrium was reached within 20 to 40 min, and so
adsorption of bacteria from percolating water will occur essentially upon contact with
the soil. As the adsorption capacity is used, up to the equilibrium limit calculated, both
the 'equilibrium front' and the bacterial concentration profiles will advance downstream.
This analysis of course ignores die-off, growth, or permanent attachment of the adsorbed
cells. The essential idea is that the soil has plenty of capacity to adsorb bacteria without
causing hazard to ground waters. This point is consistent with the empirical results of
field observations or of laboratory column testing. The consensus seems to be that
bacteria do not appear to travel far in soils if there is a clay fraction present.
Such calculations could be used to assess hazards caused by ground water injection of
treated wastewater, the hazards of septic tank leach fields, or any other similar situations.
Also, the role of adsorption as a remora1 mechanism by activated carbon columns or by
the floc in a rapid sand filter, etc. can be assessed (i.e. in a sense of understanding) in a
similar manner. Probably, after application of some factor of uncertainty, the constants
given in Table III would suffice for rough estimates for other systems as well. But for
critical applications, laboratory testing to determine the c~ and Xm constants would be
desirable.

6. Conclusions

The bacterial adsorption work presented here fits the Langmuir isotherm model quite
well. In addition, the Langmuir constant a is influenced by temperature in accordance
with the van't H o f f relationship. Thus bacterial adsorption appears to be describable in
terms of classic chemical thermodynamics even though the bacteria are particulate in
nature. The laboratory experiments show also that competition for adsorption sites is
significant. This competition was provided by peptone, a protein derivative. The
Langmuir isotherm constants, experimentally determined, can be utilized in a
mathematical modeling approach to assess bacterial travel through soils or other similar
232 D. W. HENDR|CKSETAL,

systems. This provides a rational basis for making such assessments which could either
replace or compliment field observations or laboratory column testing. The modeling
results are consistent with empirical field observations.

Acknowledgments

This paper is dedicated to the memory of Dr D. R. Khairnar who was killed in an

automobile accident soon after the project was completed. His doctoral dissertation
comprised a portion of this work.

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