| Accurate assessment of risks associated with virus contamination of groundwater requires
sound understanding of interactions between viruses and porous media. Although retention
and transport of bacteriophages, as surrogates of human enteric viruses (HEVs), have been
investigated quite extensively, similar studies with emerging HEVs are largely missing.
Thus, whether bacteriophages are suitable models for evaluating environmental fate
of HEVs remains unknown. Moreover, traditional colloidal theories (e.g., DLVO
and filtration theory) may not apply to viruses because of their complex surface
morphology and properties. We conducted column experiments to compare retention
and transport of a HEV (Adenovirus 41) and a model bacteriophage (ÏX174) in
saturated sand columns in terms of their breakthrough behavior, mass recovery, and
competition for attachment sites. In addition, adhesion forces between viruses and sand
particles were measured with atomic force microscopy (AFM). Applicability of
classic DLVO theory to describe virus-solid interactions will also be discussed. |