Real time monitoring of biofilm development under flow conditions in porous media

Abstract

Biofilm growth can impact the effectiveness of industrial processes that involve porous media. To better understand and characterize how biofilms develop and affect hydraulic properties in porous media, both spatial and temporal development of biofilms under flow conditions was investigated in a translucent porous medium by using Pseudomonas fluorescens HK44, a bacterial strain genetically engineered to luminesce in the presence of an induction agent. Real-time visualization of luminescent biofilm growth patterns under constant pressure conditions was captured using a CCD camera. Images obtained over 8 days revealed that variations in bioluminescence intensity could be correlated to biofilm cell density and hydraulic conductivity. These results were used to develop a real-time imaging method to study the dynamic behavior of biofilm evolution in a porous medium, thereby providing a new tool to investigate the impact of biological fouling in porous media under flow conditions.

Keywords:

• biofilm
• bioluminescence
• porous medium
• biofouling
• hydraulic conductivity
• imaging

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the S.M. Blair Family Foundation, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures, and the Zandmer Estate for financial support.