Biofilms oxygen penetration

Biofilms that become too thick, however, may prevent full penetration of substrates the reaction rates become more dependent on the diffusion of substrates inside the film. Therefore, procedures for controlHng the biofilm thickness may be necessary in some reactor systems [53]. Oxygen may also become limited within such biofilms, reducing transformation rates of MTBE. It is possible to estimate whether oxygen or MTBE is Hmited inside a biofilm by the following expression [49] ... 

Techniques for estimation of biofilm thickness were recently summarized by Charaklis et al. (1982). An ideal film thickness equal to the penetration depth of the limiting substrate or oxygen was stressed by Howell and Atkinson (1976). A capillary microelectrode technique has been developed by Bungay et al. (1969) for this purpose. The effect of growth rate on the biofilm buildup... 

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