3D visualization of fluid flow inside a 3D porous media by lab X-ray tomography to assess the link between biofilm’s microstructure and fluid flow inside 3D biofilter

The main goal of this project is to characterise, to quantify and to link the evolution of the 3D microstructure of a bacterial biofilm in porous media that aims at depolluting waste effluents with the hydrodynamic conditions. To overcome the lack of local 3D measurements and to improve 3D modelling of biofilm growth, there exists, according to our knowledge,

(i) only six experimental study using large scale facilities or laboratory X-Ray Microtomography to quantify the microstructure of the biofilm made up of a single bacterial species microstructure (volume fraction, shape and location)

and (ii) a single study to evaluate the effective properties (permeability and diffusion) on 3D data sets of biofilter (3D porous media in which the biofilm develops) in very few growth conditions.

None of them link the biofilm evolution (and its heterogeneous development) and the hydrodynamic conditions.

Therefore, the present projects aims at

1. Developping model biofilter that will ensure the reproducibility of the development of biofilm growth in various conditions

2. Visualising the fluid flow inside a 3D biofilter at various stages of its development

3. Quantifiying the evolution of the aforementioned biofilm characteristics at different stages of its development and according to the operating conditions (flow rate, nutrient conditions) in both steady state and in use conditions

FUNDING

Tec 21