Bioclogging or biological clogging refers to the blockage of pore space in soil by microbial biomass, including active cells and their byproducts such as extracellular polymeric substance (EPS).
The microbial biomass obstructs pore spaces, creating an impermeable layer in the soil and significantly reducing water infiltration rates.
It also affects groundwater flow in the aquifer, such as ground source heat pumps, permeable reactive barriers, and microbial enhanced oil recovery.
For instance, bioclogging can be utilized to make an impermeable layer to minimize the rate of infiltration or to enhance soil mechanic properties.
Allison described[1] that when soils are continuously submerged, permeability or saturated hydraulic conductivity changes in 3 key stages: This description is based on experiments conducted at that time, and the actual process of bioclogging depends on system conditions, such as nutrient and electron acceptor availability, microbial biofilm formation propensity, initial conditions, etc.