Bacterial floc mediated rapid streamer formation in creeping flows

摘要: One of the central puzzles concerning interaction low Reynolds number fluid transport with bacterial biomass is formation filamentous structures called streamers. In this manuscript, we report our discovery a new kind Re streamers, which appear from pre-formed flocs. sharp contrast to biofilm-mediated these streamers form over extremely small timescales (less than second). Our experiments, carried out in microchannel micropillars rely on fluorescence microscopy techniques illustrate that floc-mediated when freely-moving floc adheres micropillar wall and gets rapidly sheared by background flow. We also show at their inception deformation flocs dominated recoverable large strains indicating significant elasticity. These subsequently increase tremendously produce Interestingly, find fully formed are not static viscous response time scales larger scales. Finally, such novel streamer can lead rapid clogging microfluidic devices.