Article - Biofilm imaging in porous media

This article presents a new method that allows imaging the three-dimensional morphology of biofilms in porous media at the mesoscale, using X-Ray tomography and a non-destructive contrast agent. The method can be applied to understand biofilm development and bioclogging mechanisms in porous materials. It provides a detailed biofilm morphology useful for the three-dimensional numerical calculations of hydrodynamic conditions at the surface of the biofilm. Possible applications are studies addressing the interplay between biofilms, their morphology and local hydrodynamic and mass transport processes in realistic porous media models.