Pilot drain system for rapid biofilm formation
AssigneeS. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
InventorsShannon L. Bakich, Padma Prabodh Varanasi, Donald M. Milestone, Mark M. Gipp
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Abstract
This invention provides a methodology for rapid biofilm formation in a pilot drain system. In a typical embodiment, aqueous nutrient medium and an inoculum comprising both Sphaerotilus natans and natural biofilm bacteria is utilized to promote growth of a biofilm mass which occupies at least about 20 percent of the conduit volume of a pilot drain system within a time period of about two weeks under simulated drain usage conditions.
Claims20
A method for rapid biofilm formation in accordance with a monitored protocol which comprises (1) providing a pilot drain system for liquid flow through a conduit having an average internal diameter between about 0.9-5 centimeters;
- (2) introducing aqueous nutrient medium and bacterial inoculum comprising sheathed bacteria into the influent end of the conduit to full volume capacity without drainage;
- (3) maintaining the aqueous suspension medium in the drain conduit for an incubation period sufficient to initiate bacterial attachment to the conduit inner surface;
- (4) draining the suspension from the effluent end of the drain conduit;
- (5) recharging and draining the conduit with aqueous nutrient medium at least once every 24 hours of elapsed time period under simulated drain usage conditions to promote biofilm formation on the conduit inner surface;
- and (6) repeating the recharging and draining cycle of step (5) for an elapsed time period up to about 40 days that is sufficient to yield a biofilm mass which occupies at least about 20 percent of the conduit volume.
A pilot drain system comprising a conduit having an average internal diameter between about 0.9-5 centimeters, and having a biofilm mass on the conduit inner surface which comprises Sphaerotilus-Leptothrix colonies and which occupies at least about 20 percent of the conduit volume.
A pilot drain system comprising a conduit having an average internal diameter between about 0.9-5 centimeters, and having a biofilm mass on the conduit inner surface which comprises Sphaerotilus natans colonies and which occupies at least about 20 percent of the conduit volume.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.