A simple flow cell for monitoring biofilm formation in laboratory and industrial conditions

Abstract

This work proposes and discusses a simple flow cell reactor that provides a means to monitoring biofilm growth by periodical removing biofilm-attached slides for off-line, nondestructive and destructive biofilm analysis without the stoppage of the flow. With this flow cell, biofilm growth and respiratory activity can be easily followed, either in well defined laboratory conditions or in an industrial environment. The reproducible and typical biofilm development curves obtained validated this flow cell and confirmed its potential for different biofilm-related studies, which can include biocidal treatment.