The CDC Biofilm Reactor consists of eight (8) polypropylene coupon holders suspended from a UHMW-polyethylene ported lid. The coupon holders can accommodate 3 -1/2 inch (12.7 mm) diameter coupons each . The lid with coupon holders and coupons is mounted in a 1 liter glass vessel with side-arm discharge port. A liquid growth media/biocide/etc.is circulated through the vessel while mixing and shear is generated by a magnetic stir bar/vane rotated by a magnetic stir plate.
Sampling of the coupons is conducted by aseptically removing individual coupon holders with accompanying coupons (3). The coupon holder or a blank is replaced in the lid after sampling to allow the time course experiment to continue.
The coupon removed from the reactor vessel is then used for treatment evaluations, scraped to collect the biofilm sample for further study, or imaging using microscopy and image analysis.
The CDC Biofilm Reactor is autoclavable and re-useable. The total liquid volume is approximately 350 ml. A variety of coupon materials are available, including plastics, metals, and ceramics. |