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Effects of biofilm structures on oxygen distribution and mass transport
Author(s) -
de Beer Dirk,
Stoodley Paul,
Roe Frank,
Lewandowski Zbigniew
Publication year - 1994
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.260431118
Subject(s) - biofilm , mass transfer , oxygen , chemistry , diffusion , oxygen transport , planar , chemical physics , cluster (spacecraft) , mass transport , chemical engineering , biophysics , thermodynamics , chromatography , bacteria , physics , biology , organic chemistry , genetics , computer graphics (images) , engineering physics , computer science , engineering , programming language
Aerobic biofilms were found to have a complex structure consisting of microbial cell clusters (discrete aggregates of densely packed cells) and interstitial voids. The oxygen distribution was strongly correlated with these strutures. The voids facilitated oxygen transport from the bulk liquid through the biofilm, supplying approximately 50% of the total oxygen consumed by the cells. The mass transport rate from the bulk liquid is influenced by the biofilm structure; the observed exchange surface of the biofilm is twice that calculated for a simple planar geometry. The oxygen diffusion occurred in the direction normal to the cluster surfaces, the horizontal and vertical components of the oxygen gradients were of equal importance. Consequently, for calculations of mass transfer rates a three‐dimensional model is necessary. These findings imply that to accurately describe biofilm activity, the relation between the arrangement of structural components and mass transfer must be undrstood. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.