Speaker
Description
Biofilm formation in porous media is crucial for understanding microbial processes in subsurface environments, bioremediation, and engineered systems. Previous research has shown that growth may be oxygen-limited under slow flow rates when oxygen is the sole electron acceptor (i.e. under aerobic conditions). Our current research involves growing biofilms in micro-gravity on the International Space Station (ISS), where, due to volume constraints on the cargo shuttles, only a limited amount (volume) of nutrients can be transported to space. This study, therefore, explores the development of monoculture, Shewanella oneidensis, biofilm in porous media under varying growth conditions, using either oxygen or sodium nitrate as the terminal electron acceptor. Biofilms were cultivated in glass flow reactors (7 mm i.d.) packed with glass beads ranging in size from 650-1200 microns. Syringe pumps delivered prescribed nutrient volumes at controlled flow rates and elevated temperatures (38 oC) to produce ample growth. The goal was to compare growth and 3D biofilm architecture differences using the two electron acceptors.
The reactors were imaged using X-ray microCT to compare the two growth conditions, and the resulting data was processed with advanced image analysis software. Contrast agents were employed to differentiate the biofilm from the aqueous phase at the time of imaging. Deep learning algorithms were applied to segment the data into porous medium, biofilm, and aqueous phases. Several key metrics were analyzed to quantify the differences between the two growth scenarios, including biofilm volume, area, 3D distribution within the porous medium, and topological variables representing the connectivity of the biofilm.
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Student Awards | I would like to submit this presentation into the student poster award. |
| Acceptance of the Terms & Conditions | Click here to agree |
