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Biofilm thickness variability investigated with a laser triangulation sensor
Author(s) -
Okkerse W. J. H.,
Ottengraf S. P. P.,
OsingaKuipers B.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0290(20001220)70:6<619::aid-bit3>3.0.co;2-4
Subject(s) - biofilm , surface roughness , materials science , surface finish , dichloromethane , chemistry , chemical engineering , composite material , solvent , geology , bacteria , organic chemistry , paleontology , engineering
Measurement of the surface roughness and thickness of biological films is laborious and usually destructive, thus hampering research in this area. We developed a laser triangulation sensor (LTS) set‐up for the fast and nondestructive measurement of these biofilm parameters during growth. Using LTS measurements, the morphological development of a dichloromethane‐(DCM) degrading biofilm cultured on a wetted‐wall column was studied. The measurements show that the biofilm develops faster at the entrance of the reactor. The biofilm consisted of a base film in which microbial colonies were embedded. The biofilm‐surface area gradually increased by 23% compaerd to the bare surface due to the formation of a large number of these colonies. The number and shape of these colonies were followed in time. Using LTS measurements, biofilms distinctly different in surface roughness could be distinguished in a laboratory trickling filter removing DCM from a waste gas. The consequences of the observed surface characteristics for the reaction‐diffusion process in the biofilm and for the falling film hydrodynamics are discussed. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 70: 619–629, 2000.