Control of microbial adhesion using fine particle technology

Microbial adhesion to an interface plays an important role in many industrial bioengineering processes. Surface physicochemical properties can be treated as an indicator of the adhesive properties of microbial cells. In this paper, the application of the aggregation/dispersion technique used in fine particle technology to biotechnology is reviewed. By way of illustration, measurements of the surface characteristics of microbes living in an anaerobic digester, analysis of microbial adhesion and aggregation/coaggregation, and their application are introduced.

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► We review uses of the aggregation/dispersion technique in biotechnology.
► Physicochemical properties can indicate the adhesion properties of microbial cells.
► Biological interaction may affect the colloidal behavior of environmental microbes.