Project description
Uncovering the mechanisms that control biofilm hydraulic resistance
Biofouling has adverse effects on membrane systems, hindering the scalability of cheap, decentralised filtration systems such as gravity-driven membranes. The hydraulic resistance of the biofouling layer is primarily controlled by a biofilm, where the microbial communities are embedded in a self-secreted extracellular polymeric matrix (EPS), a structure akin to a colloidal gel. Experiments have shown that biofilm hydraulic resistance varies with hydrostatic pressure. Understanding how hydrostatic pressure shapes the EPS composition, spatial distribution and production of biofilm structures is crucial to reducing biofilm hydraulic resistance. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the MicroBioMem project will develop a microfluidic platform embedded in a cryogel membrane barrier to thoroughly monitor membrane-bound biofilm development and hydraulic resistance under different hydrostatic pressures.
Objective
Membrane biofouling is an inevitable factor severely effecting the permeate flux of ultrafiltration systems. This impacts the scalability of cheap, decentralised, low hydrostatic pressure methods such as Gravity driven membrane filtration (GDM). The hydraulic resistance of the biofouling layer is primarily controlled by biofilm, microbial communities embedded within a self-secreted extracellular polymeric matrix (EPS), a structure akin to a colloidal gel. Mesoscale experiments have shown biofilm hydraulic resistance to vary with hydrostatic pressure, however the microscale biophysical interactions inducing this behaviour are unclear.
Understanding how hydrostatic pressure shapes EPS composition, spatial distribution and physical development of biofilm structures is crucial to establishing hydrodynamic strategies to reduce biofilm hydraulic resistance. With this proposal I will evaluate how EPS spatiotemporal distribution and local mechanical properties influence microscale fluid transport and the emergence of internal biofilm structures, to impact bulk biofilm hydraulic resistance, under a range of GDM hydrostatic pressures.
To achieve this, I will develop a microfluidic platform embedded with a cryogel membrane barrier, enabling detailed monitoring of membrane bound biofilm development and hydraulic resistance under different hydrostatic pressures. Deploying a correlative imaging approach, I will quantify EPS regulation, composition and local mechanics using state of the art optical visualisation techniques paired with microrheological methods from soft matter physics. Evolution of fluid transport will be mapped using particle imaging velocimetry. Relationships between composition and hydraulic resistance established on the microscale will then be tested for scalability on the mesoscale. By directly quantifying biofilm biophysical evolution, this project will offer invaluable insights untangling the microscale interactions governing biofilm hydraulic resistance.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences classical mechanics fluid mechanics microfluidics
- natural sciences physical sciences condensed matter physics soft matter physics
- natural sciences physical sciences classical mechanics fluid mechanics fluid statics
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
8092 Zuerich
Switzerland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.