ABSTRACT
There are a number of biofilm devices that offer the experimental control of factors influencing the biofilm accumulation. The continuous flow system offers the cultivation for long periods of time and may provide valuable in formation on the properties of biofilms and the mass balance of substrates/ products. The main design philosophy behind the continuous flow system for cultivation of sessile bacteria derived from successful use of the chemostat (Monod, 1950). Only a few devices are commercially available and suitable for a variety of research questions and aims. The RotoTorque™ (rotating an nular reactor), constant-depth film fermenters (Atkinson and Fowler, 1974; Peters and Wimpenny, 1988, 1989), radial flow and rotating disc reactor (Fowler and McKay, 1980; Loeb et al., 1984) and the Robbins device (Mc Coy et al., 1981) are useful devices for the study of biofilm accumulation un der defined or controlled hydrodynamic conditions. The Robbins device con sists of a tubular container with removable test surfaces (sampling studs). Many experimental systems use the basic principles of the Robbins device for the monitoring of biofilm development, removal and disinfection under plug flow conditions (Banks and Bryers, 1991; Nickel et al., 1985). An overview of the above-mentioned test sytems are described in detail by Gilbert and Allison, (1993).
