Abstract
The biofilm-forming fungus, Aureobasidium pullulans DSM 2404, was grown in a bead-packed reactor. Alterations within the reactor were analysed in several cross-sectional slices by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with flow contrast. For the first time, biofilm accumulation could be continuously elucidated without using any contrast agents, and the non-stationary flow through the fixed-bed reactor could be visualized. The results indicate that the non-stationary flow through the biofilm reactor changes significantly due to the changing reactor morphology. Preferential flow lines arise during biofilm formation. The accumulation of the biomass was determined and compared to gravimetrical biomass data. The described technique can be used to monitor hydrodynamic transport, and to combine flow-field characteristics with morphological data for the prediction of undesirable reactor processes, e.g. clogging.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by grants of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG): the DFG Research Unit FOR 338 “Application of Magnetic Resonance to the investigation of structure and transport processes in disperse systems”, and the DFG Research Training Group 366 “Interfacial phenomena in aquatic systems and aqueous phases”. Manfred Haug and his team are gratefully acknowledged for their skilful technical help in reactor design. We also would like to thank Emilio Oliver-Gonzales for assistance with the MRI measurements.
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Metzger, U., Lankes, U., Hardy, E.H. et al. Monitoring the formation of an Aureobasidium pullulans biofilm in a bead-packed reactor via flow-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Biotechnol Lett 28, 1305–1311 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-006-9091-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-006-9091-x