Imaging biofilm architecture within porous media using synchrotron‐based X‐ray computed microtomography

Abstract

A new method to resolve biofilms in three dimensions in porous media using high‐resolution synchrotron‐based X‐ray computed microtomography (CMT) has been developed. Imaging biofilms in porous media without disturbing the natural spatial arrangement of the porous medium and associated biofilm has been a challenging task, primarily because porous media generally preclude conventional imaging via optical microscopy; X‐ray tomography offers a potential alternative. Using silver‐coated microspheres for contrast, we were able to differentiate between the biomass and fluid‐filled pore spaces. The method was validated using a two‐dimensional micromodel flow cell where both light microscopy and CMT imaging were used to image the biofilm.