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Detachment forces and their influence on the structure and metabolic behaviour of biofilms

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Abstract

The biofilm reactor has been frequently applied in wastewater treatment. The formation, structure and metabolic activity of the biofilms are closely associated with the detachment forces in the reactors. This paper reviews the essential role of detachment forces in the biofilm process. A more compact, stable and denser biofilm can be formed at a relatively higher detachment force. The detachment force has significant influence on the structure, mass transfer, production of exopolysaccharides, metabolic and genetic properties of the biofilm. In an engineering sense, the detachment forces can be manipulated, as a control parameter, to produce a more stable and compact biofilm for use in wastewater treatment. The molecular and genetic mechanisms responsible for the detachment force-associated phenomena are not yet fully understood.

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  1. School of Civil and Structural Engineering, Environmental Engineering Research Center, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore –, 639798, Singapore

    Yu Liu & Joo-Hwa Tay

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  1. Yu Liu
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Liu, Y., Tay, JH. Detachment forces and their influence on the structure and metabolic behaviour of biofilms. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 17, 111–117 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016625209839

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