Reduction of viscosity in suspension of swimming bacteria.
Measurements of the shear viscosity in suspensions of swimming Bacillus subtilis in free-standing liquid films have revealed that the viscosity can decrease by up to a factor of 7 compared to the viscosity of the same liquid without bacteria or with nonmotile bacteria. The reduction in viscosity is observed in two complementary experiments: one studying the decay of a large vortex induced by a moving probe and another measuring the viscous torque on a rotating magnetic particle immersed in the film. The viscosity depends on the concentration and swimming speed of the bacteria.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC02-06CH11357
- OSTI ID:
- 1004034
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/MSD/JA-65283; TRN: US201103%%280
- Journal Information:
- Phys. Rev. Lett., Vol. 103, Issue Sep. 29, 2009; Conference: 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Annual Meeting (AIChE 2009); Nov. 8, 2009 - Nov. 13, 2009; Nashville, TN
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- ENGLISH
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