Title: Contact angle keying method for an integrated analytical approach to characterising waters in the Lourdes area (Pyrenees, France)

Authors: Davide Rossi; Dariusz Dobrzyński; Isabella Moro; Marisa Dal Zotto; Emanuela Moschin; Nicola Realdon

Addresses: Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 5, 35121, Padova, Italy; Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Via R. Balzarini, 1,64100, Campus Coste Sant'Agostino, Teramo, Italy ORCID: 0000-0002-2649-2889 ' Faculty of Geology, University of Warsaw, Zwirki i Wigury 93, 02-089, Warsaw, Poland ' Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi, 58/B, 35131, Padova, Italy ' Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 5, 35121, Padova, Italy ' Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi, 58/B, 35131, Padova, Italy ' Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 5, 35121, Padova, Italy

Abstract: Wettability research was orchestrated with chemical and biological (microalgae, bacteria) characteristics in multidisciplinary assessment of different types of waters (groundwater, surface water, disinfected drinking water) from the area of Lourdes town (Haute Pyrénées Department, France). Multidisciplinary data were subjected to statistical analysis. The molecular analysis indicated that isolated cultivable bacterial strains belonging to γ-Proteobacteria significantly dominate over bacteria classified within the Flavobacteriia and β-Proteobacteria groups. The correlations between the contact angles and the chemical parameters suggest their influences on the surface tension characteristics of the waters. The relations between the contact angle and microbiological data confirm the influence of environmental conditions on the biological and surface tension parameters of the waters. Implementation of surface tensiometry technique to the study of the biological and geochemical status of groundwater has not previously been performed. This work encourages applications that aim at the assessment and understanding of groundwater ecosystems.

Keywords: contact angle; wettability; IAA; integrated analytical approach; water chemistry; microalgae; bacteria; Lourdes area; Pyrenees.

DOI: 10.1504/IJW.2020.112712

International Journal of Water, 2020 Vol.14 No.1, pp.29 - 68

Received: 28 Nov 2019
Accepted: 16 Jan 2020

Published online: 01 Feb 2021 *

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