A real-time method to gain estimates of biofilm attachment and growth would provide a more efficient way to evaluate biofilm control strategies.
Current methodologies require time and are labor intensive.
This paper describes a method to make real-time estimates of biofilm growth using laser light scattering. Light scattered by biofilm deposited on the inner surface of the tube was read by a fiber optic probe connected to a photo-multiplier tube. Light intensity was measured as voltage from the photo-multiplier tube, and compared to the cell density. These measurements were non-destructive and immediate. Coupons from a rotating disk reactor in series with the tube were scraped and cultured to determine the microbial cell density in the reactor system.