CBE News Update May, 2006 Volume 9, Issue 5   Hydrodynamics in Biofilm Affected Porous Media   Paper Spotlight by Robin Gerlach Past research has shown that biofilm growth in porous media can affect porous media hydrodynamics and solute transport and can be utilized to control flow and solute transport. The main contributors of this research are currently Al Cunningham (CBE), Joe Seymour (CBE), Robert Sharp (Manhattan College, NY), and Robin Gerlach (CBE).   The following images illustrate the patterns of flow, growth and activity of biofilms grown in porous media.   Figure 1. How biofilm formation in a two-dimensional porous media model reactor is affected by biofilm growth. Figure 2. How the location and shape of flow channels change in time. Figure 3. How biofilm growth affects tracer breakthrough.     Top (a): Thin biofilm                         Bottom (b): Thick biofilm with channel(s) Figure 4. How oxygen (as indicated by the green bioluminescence) is being consumed by the Vibrio fisheri biofilms in biofilm-affected porous media reactors.   Further Reading:   "Visualization and Characterization of Dynamic Patterns of Flow, Growth, and Activity of Biofilms Growing in Porous Media" Sharp, R.R., P. Stoodley, M. Adgie, R. Gerlach, A. Cunningham Water Sci. Technol., 52(7):85-90 (2005)   "Anomalous Fluid Transport in Porous Media Induced by Biofilm Growth" Seymour, J.D., J.P. Gage, S.L. Codd and R. Gerlach Physical Review Letters 2004, 93:198103 (1-4) (2004)