Figure 1.
The viable cell numbers (colony forming units (CFU) per mL of effluent) released from biofilms, normalized with respect to the bulk-liquid flow rate (mL h−1) and total substratum area (cm2) available for cell attachment and biofilm development. Biofilms were allowed to develop in replicate microfluidic channels for up to 96 h under different bulk-liquid flow velocities; thereby subjecting the biofilms to a wide range of average fluid shear rates (mPa). Error bars indicate the standard deviation of samples taken from replicate biofilms (two experimental rounds, with each round consisting of biofilms growing in two microfluidic channels).