Journal
MICROBES AND ENVIRONMENTS
Volume 27, Issue 4, Pages 399-406Publisher
JAPANESE SOC MICROBIAL ECOLOGY, DEPT BIORESOURCE SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1264/jsme2.ME11339
Keywords
biofilm; biofilm polymer; ion adsorption-desorption characteristics; nutrient ions
Categories
Funding
- Institute for Fermentation, Osaka (IFO), Japan
- Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japanese Government
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The characteristics of biofilm polymers formed on stone surfaces in Lake Biwa and ion adsorption and desorption to and from these biofilms were investigated. The results indicated that both positively and negatively charged sites exist in the biofilm polymer. A physicochemical interaction between these sites and ions in the surrounding water seems to promote the adsorption of ions to the biofilm through an attractive electrostatic interaction and an ion-exchange mechanism. The results also indicated that, in comparison with ion-exchange resins, ions were more loosely bound to and desorbed more easily from the biofilm polymer. This suggests that microbes in the biofilm can readily use these ions as nutrient ions. Our present findings indicate that the biofilm may play an important role in supplying nutrient ions to microbes in the biofilm and in the development of a nutrient-rich environment within the biofilm through both ion adsorption and desorption. This study shows for the first time that the inside of a biofilm can be a sustainable environment for microbes.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available