Comments on “Two-dimensional concentration distribution for mixing-controlled bioreactive transport in steady-state” by O.A. Cirpka and A.J. Valocchi

In this comment we present a re-analysis of the analytical solution presented by Cirpka and Valocchi for steady-state concentrations of dissolved bioreactive compounds and bacterial biomass in porous media. We discuss the validity range of the analytical solution. In particular, the criterion used to determine the sustainability of biomass is revisited. This re-analysis shows that the ωω criterion used by Cirpka and Valocchi is only a necessary but not a sufficient criterion to determine the bioreactive zones. As a consequence, the analytical solution does not provide the exact distribution of compounds throughout the domain, but can serve as upper or lower boundaries for species concentrations at a given location. These conclusions are supported by the simulation results obtained from an established reactive transport model.