Biomineral Flocculation of Kaolinite and Microalgae: Laboratory Experiments and Stochastic Modeling

In estuaries and coastal waters, the flocculation of cohesive sediments is significantly affected by extracellular polymeric substances secreted by microalgae. In this study, laboratory experiments are carried out to explore the role of two typical microalgae (Skeletonema costatum and Cyclotella meneghiniana) on suspended fine-grained sediments under various turbulent shear and environmental conditions. The results show that the shear rate is a dominant factor in controlling the biomineral flocculation processes, and the existence of microalgae generally enhances the aggregation of mineral sediments with microalgae. It is also found that floc size distributions (FSDs) and mean sizes are clearly influenced by different algal species and concentrations, especially under intensive turbulent environments. Moreover, a quasi-Monte Carlo (QMC) based bivariate population balance model is developed to simulate the FSDs of sediment-algae flocs. This model is reasonably validated by two analytical solutions and laboratory observations, and indicates a potential extension for tracking the properties of microalgae-associated fine sediment flocs due to the discrete nature of the QMC method.

Automated summary

This study investigates the impact of microalgae on suspended fine-grained sediments through laboratory experiments and modeling. The results demonstrate that the shear rate plays a dominant role in the aggregation process, and the presence of microalgae enhances the aggregation. Different algal species and concentrations have a significant influence on the size distribution and average size of the aggregates. The developed model effectively simulates the aggregates and has the potential to track the properties of microalgae-associated sediment flocs.