In situ determination of kinetic parameters for biofilms: Isolation and characterization of oligotrophic biofilms

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Abstract
This article develops and utilizes an in situ technique to estimate the Monod half-maximum rate concentration, Ks and the maximum specific utilization rate constant, k, for biofilms. The technique employs a curve-matching method with kinetic results from several short-term experiments with completely mixed biofilm reactors. Use of the in situ method eliminates the two drawbacks of using conventional suspended-growth measurements to characterize biofilm: possible alteration of cell physiology and a major investment to run the suspended-growth tests. Results with five cultures of biofilm-forming oligotrophs demonstrated the in situ technique and supported the hypothesis that Ks values were lower for the biofilm oligotrophs than for typical copiotrophs.