Premium
Non‐invasive mass transfer measurements in complex biofilm‐coated structures
Author(s) -
Graf von der Schulenburg D.A.,
Akpa B.S.,
Gladden L.F.,
Johns M.L.
Publication year - 2008
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.21913
Subject(s) - propagator , pulsed field gradient , displacement (psychology) , biofilm , mass transfer , chemistry , diffusion , dispersion (optics) , chemical physics , biological system , characterization (materials science) , analytical chemistry (journal) , mechanics , materials science , physics , thermodynamics , chromatography , optics , nanotechnology , bacteria , geology , psychology , paleontology , quantum mechanics , biology , psychotherapist
We demonstrate a novel application of 13 C pulsed field gradient (PFG) NMR to monitor mass transfer, due to both flow and diffusion, in a 3D complex porous support structure modified by biofilm growth. This enables timescales an order of magnitude larger than previously possible to be accessed with respect to displacement probability distribution (propagator) measurements. The evolution in the propagator shape with observation time to the Gaussian asymptote (constant dispersion coefficient) is consequently well resolved. We also simulated the measured displacement propagators with good agreement between experiment and prediction. The methodology has significant potential for the selective characterization of the transport of nutrients, metabolic products, pollutants and biocides in such complex biofilm‐containing structures. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 602–608. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.