New rotating annular photobioreactor with Taylor-Couette type flow for phototrophic biofilm investigations

Abstract

The structure and function of microbial communities obtained from river phototrophic biofilms are driven by biotic and abiotic factors. An understanding of the mechanisms that mediate community structure, dynamics of biological succession and associated ecological functions can be obtained by using laboratory-scale systems operated under controlled parameters (e.g., hydrodynamics, light and nutrients). A new prototype of rotating annular photobioreactor (Taylor-Couette type flow) was designed to produce phototrophic biofilm under controlled environmental conditions. This photobioreactor has been successfully used in microbial ecotoxicology investigations (using alachlor herbicide and ionic Ag and Ag nanoparticles) and in studies on interaction of metals (Cu and Zn) with phototrophic biofilm.