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Optical method for long‐term and large‐scale monitoring of spatial biofilm development
Author(s) -
Milferstedt K.,
Pons M.N.,
Morgenroth E.
Publication year - 2006
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/bit.20893
Subject(s) - biofilm , transect , scanner , scale (ratio) , surface finish , remote sensing , surface roughness , flow (mathematics) , biomass (ecology) , environmental science , materials science , biological system , geology , optics , composite material , mathematics , physics , geometry , biology , paleontology , oceanography , quantum mechanics , bacteria
A method was developed that allows biofilm monitoring on the square centimeter scale over extended periods of time. The method is based on image acquisition using a desktop scanner and subsequent image analysis. It was shown that results from grey level analysis are highly correlated with physical properties of the biofilm like average biomass and biofilm thickness. The scanner method was applied to monitor overall biofilm growth, detachment, and surface roughness during two 3 and 4 week long experiments. Two significantly different growth dynamics during the biofilm development could be identified, depending on the biofilm history. Surface roughness on transects in flow direction was always higher than on transects perpendicular to the flow, reflecting the anisotropic characteristics of biofilms growing in a flow field. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.