Survival of microorganisms in a rock bed under conditions simulating solar heat storage

A laboratory-scale unit containing about 360 kg of washed river gravel was designed to [ill] the use of rocks for heat storage. The unit was operated under varying conditions of temperature, relative humidity, and the addition of volatile nutrients over a 4-month period. Effluent air and rock surfaces were monitored for the presence of microorganisms. After 2 weeks, virtually no microorganisms were detected in the effluent air except when dry soil or compost was added as the inoculum. A small number of heat-resistant bacteria, but no fungi, were found to survive on the rock surfaces. Microorganisms isolated were either sporeforming bacteria or actinomycetes closely resembling Thermoactinomyces vulgaris. Microbial colonization of rock beds used for solar heat storage does not appear likely under routine operation.