Authors
Alex F Rosenthal, James S Griffin, Michael Wagner, Aaron I Packman, Oluwaseyi Balogun, George F Wells
Publication date
2018/9
Journal
Biotechnology and Bioengineering
Volume
115
Issue
9
Pages
2268-2279
Description
Morphological parameters are commonly used to predict transport and metabolic kinetics in biofilms. Yet, quantification of biofilm morphology remains challenging because of imaging technology limitations and lack of robust analytical approaches. We present a novel set of imaging and image analysis techniques to estimate internal porosity, pore size distributions, and pore network connectivity to a depth of 1 mm at a resolution of 10 µm in a biofilm exhibiting both heterotrophic and nitrifying activities. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans revealed an extensive pore network with diameters as large as 110 µm directly connected to the biofilm surface and surrounding fluid. Thin‐section fluorescence in situ hybridization microscopy revealed that ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB) distributed through the entire thickness of the biofilm. AOB were particularly concentrated in the biofilm around internal pores …
Total citations
201920202021202220232024432625
Scholar articles
AF Rosenthal, JS Griffin, M Wagner, AI Packman… - Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 2018