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Tracer measurements reveal experimental evidence of biofilm consolidation
Author(s) -
Casey Eoin
Publication year - 2007
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.21456
Subject(s) - biofilm , tracer , mass transfer , inert , consolidation (business) , biological system , chemistry , biochemical engineering , biology , physics , chromatography , genetics , accounting , organic chemistry , bacteria , nuclear physics , engineering , business
The ability to simultaneously measure both biofilm thickness and the mass transfer coefficient of an inert tracer through it provides a powerful method to study biofilm development. In this communication previously published data has been collated to interpret global trends in biofilm structure during the transition towards steady‐state. It appears that sudden changes in biofilm structure (directly related to the rate of change of biofilm mass transfer resistance) may occur following transitions in rate of biomass production. These observations are consistent with the concept of consolidation, recently introduced into spatially structured biofilm mathematical models to account for structural realignment of the biofilm under dynamic conditions. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007;98: 920–925. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.