Internal mass transport in heterogeneous biofilms: Recent advances
- Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT (United States). Center for Biofilm Engineering
Aerobic biofilms were found to have a complex structure consisting of microbial cell clusters (discrete aggregates of densely packed cells) and interstitial voids. The authors used the Confocal Scanning Laser Microscope (CSLM) in conjunction with dissolved oxygen microelectrodes to examine the structural and chemical heterogeneity of fully hydrated, living biofilms in real time under flow conditions. The oxygen distribution within the biofilm was strongly correlated with these structures. The voids facilitated oxygen transport from the bulk liquid through the biofilm. Water could freely move through the channels within the biofilm inducing convective mass transfer of dissolved and particulate substrates. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging (NMRI), in which the phase of the nuclear spin depends on the spin velocity, was used to show how fluid velocity varied in a conduit colonized with biofilm. Spin-lattice relaxation time was used at the same time to obtain images of biofilm density. Structural and chemical heterogeneity may contribute to initiation of corrosion induce microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) on metal surfaces where biofilms have accumulated. The Scanning Vibrating Electrode (SVE) has been used to spatially and temporally map ion currents in solution above MIC anodic and cathodic sites.
- OSTI ID:
- 128678
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950304-; TRN: IM9550%%63
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Corrosion `95: National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) international annual conference and corrosion show, Orlando, FL (United States), 26-31 Mar 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Corrosion/95 conference papers; PB: 5788 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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