Microbial Flocs Suspended Biofilms

Abstract

Environmental Significance of Flocs in Natural and Engineered Systems Structural and Physicochemical Properties of Floc Diffusional Gradients in Microbial Floc Interfacial Forces in Floc Formation Mechanisms of Floc Formation Physiological Factors Affecting Floc Formation and Properties Methods for Analyzing Floc Acknowledgments

Association of Escherichia Coli 0157:H7 in Flocs: Role of Extracellular Polymeric Substances and Fate of Pathogenic Organisms

“…Floes are stable complex aggregates that consist of bioorganic and inorganic material and heterogeneous microorganisms embedded in polymeric networks, known generally as extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) (Liss, 2002;Wilen et ai, 2003). Floes have been also described as individual micro-ecosystems with autonomous and interactive physical, chemical ' 'ind biological functions or behaviours operating within the floe matrix (Droppo ei ah, 1997).…”

“…Floes are found in natural environments such as freshwater and marine systems. For example, Ireshwater floes form flocculated fine grain sediment in the benthic regions of freshwater environments (Liss, 2002). Floes in natural environments have been studied because they influence the fate of a contaminant that is adsorbed to the floes and dispersed in aquatic environments.…”

“…Floes are also found in engineered environments such as activated sludge in wastewater treatment plants and processing equipment. Activated sludge has been intensively examined in the context of seeking ways to improve wastewater processes such as settling and dewatering processes (Droppo, 2001;Liss, 2002).…”

Dynamic feature fusion in the self organising tree map - applied to the segmentation of biofilm images

“…The term Bioflm is used to describe a collection of micro-organisms anchored to some form of substrata [1], which may exist in a variety of different situationsfrom the dental plaque found on teeth, to microbialflocs (highly complex aggregations of microbial cells or bacteria, bioorganic and inorganic material) suspended in aqueous environments [2]. In such environments, physical structure plays a crucial role in the many key processes that occur.…”

“…This process then aids in the separation of suspended microbial contaminants from treated effluent. A common problem occurs in such systems when flocs form with poor settling properties, thereby degrading the overall treatment process [2]. To gain insight into the structural properties and microbial behaviour in this and many other environmental applications, microscopy remains the major tool through which non-invasive study may be conducted in-situ at the cellular level.…”