TABLE 3.
Microstructural biofilm parameters for slow (n = 18)- and fast (n = 18)-flow treatments
| Parametera | Mean result ± SD for:
|
Pb | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slow flow | Fast flow | ||
| Thickness (μm) | 295 ± 143 | 123 ± 97 | <0.001 |
| Roughness | 0.22 ± 0.09 | 0.29 ± 0.09 | <0.05 |
| Sinuosity | 4.78 ± 2.09 | 3.22 ± 0.96 | <0.05 |
| Porosity | 0.50 ± 0.10 | 0.46 ± 0.12 | NS |
| Fragmentation | 0.20 ± 0.05 | 0.17 ± 0.05 | NS |
| Areal density (g cm−3) | 0.03 ± 0.02 | 0.01 ± 0.02 | <0.05 |
a
Roughness, sinuosity, porosity, and fragmentation are dimensionless indices.
b
The effects of flow treatment were tested with the Mann-Whitney Wilcoxon test. NS, not significant.