A refinement of the biofilm formation method for waste forms stability evaluation

A refinement of the biofilm formation method for waste form stability evaluation was carried out in this study. Refinement of the biofilm formation method became necessary because of the reduced contrast in degradation between control and experimental samples. The reduction in contrast was occasioned by the long duration of exposure (12 days) of the control samples to sterile medium of low pH in the first stage. Results of evaluation carried out reveal that the duration of the first stage of the biofilm formation method can be reduced to 24 h, with substantial increase in the contrast between degradations experienced by control and experimental samples. Reduction of the first stage can be done without compromising the efficiency of the inoculation process, which the longer duration of the first stage was originally intended to ensure. A doubt as to actual formation of biofilms on experimental samples, resulting from the use of non-sterile tubings and glass wares in the second stage, was also addressed in this study. Results reveal that substantial attachment of microbes occur on the surfaces of experimental samples in the first stage, thus any supply of microbes via the tubings and glass wares in the second stage is only additional and inconsequential.