Assessment of changes in the microorganism community in a biofilter

Community level physiological profiling (CLPP) with BIOLOG ECO-plates was used to assess the changes in functional diversity of the microbial community in a compost biofilter over time. The biofilter was treating a humidified airstream contaminated with hexane and later with ethanol. The results are consistent with spatial and temporal variation in the community when analysed using principal component (PC) analysis. BIOLOG ECO-plates provide a simple and rapid way of assessing changes in community structure of biofiltration systems. Here, the technique is demonstrated and possibilities for its application in biofilter analysis and monitoring are explored. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.