Kinetics of initial biofilm formation within a turbulent flow system

Abstract

A kinetic expression is presented which describes biofouling film development from clean surface conditions to the onset of fluid frictional resistance increase. Biofouling experiments were conducted in a system which provides control of biological activity in the bulk fluid while simulating turbulent flow conditions. The effect of three system parameters - dispersed biomass concentration, Reynolds Number, and dispersed biomass growth rate - on the rate of initial biofilm formation is presented. Primary biofilm accumulation is described using a first order rate expression with the resultant first order rate constant a linear function of the considered parameters. (A)