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Naudet & Revil 2005
Naudet, V. and Revil, A. (2005). A sandbox experiment to investigate bacteria-mediated redox processes on self-potential signals. Geophysical Research Letters 32: doi: 10.1029/2005GL022735. issn: 0094-8276.

We investigated the influence of microbial processes on self-potential signals in a Plexiglas tank filled with a water-saturated quartz sand. A small region of the tank was treated with sulfato-reducer bacteria and organic nutrients. Redox potential measurements were performed both in the treated portion containing the bacteria and in the non-treated portion of the tank. Self-potential signals were recorded at the upper (free-air) surface of the tank to monitor biodegradation. We observed a linear correlation between the temporal variation of these self-potential signals and the redox potential difference between the treated and the non-treated portion of the tank. Self-potential signals can therefore be used as a non-intrusive redox sensor. In addition, we propose a geobattery concept in which biofilms and the possible precipitation of metallic particles (biominerals) at the redox front allow electron transfer (therefore a net driving current density) between the reduced and oxidized parts of the system. In turn, this current is responsible for an electrical field in the Maxwell equations.

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Abstract

Keywords
Biogeosciences, Biogeophysics, Electromagnetics, Biological effects, Hydrology, Hydrogeophysics, Physical Properties of Rocks, Magnetic and electrical properties
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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