Microbial reactions at gas-liquid and solid-liquid interfaces in underground hydrogen storage
Gloire Imani1, Lei Zhang1, Eike Marie Thaysen2
1Key Laboratory of Unconventional Oil & Gas Development (China University of Petroleum (East China)), Ministry of Education, Qingdao 266580, PR China; School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao, Shandong 266580, China.
Advances in Colloid and Interface Science
|December 23, 2025
Summary
Microbial activity in underground hydrogen storage (UHS) can impact hydrogen purity and recovery. Understanding interfacial processes is key to mitigating these risks and ensuring efficient hydrogen storage.
Area of Science:
- Geosciences
- Microbiology
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Underground hydrogen storage (UHS) is crucial for large-scale energy systems.
- Microbial activity presents significant risks to hydrogen purity, injectivity, and recovery in UHS.
- Interfacial processes are central to microbial behavior in UHS environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review interfacial processes governing microbial behavior in underground hydrogen storage.
- To focus on gas-liquid and solid-liquid interfaces where key microbial activities occur.
- To synthesize knowledge on microbial impacts on interfacial phenomena relevant to UHS.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on interfacial processes in UHS.
- Analysis of microbial metabolism, biofilm formation, and colloidal adhesion.
- Synthesis of impacts on physicochemical properties like wettability and interfacial tension.
Main Results:
- Microbial colonization alters rock-water interfaces, affecting wettability, interfacial tension, and capillarity.
- These alterations impact hydrogen retention and multiphase flow dynamics.
- Microbial activity influences bubble disconnection, wettability shifts, and surface fouling, leading to hydrogen loss.
Conclusions:
- Microbial interfacial dynamics significantly affect the performance and efficiency of underground hydrogen storage.
- Understanding these processes is vital for mitigating risks associated with hydrogen purity and recovery.
- An interdisciplinary approach is needed to address microbial challenges in UHS.
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