Drag reduction by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus BD4 |
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| Authors: | N Sar E Rosenberg |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Microbiology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel. |
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| Abstract: | The encapsulated bacterium Acinetobacter calcoaceticus BD4 at a density of 3.6 X 10(9) cells per ml reduced the friction of turbulent water in a narrow pipe by 55%. This drag reduction was due to the tightly bound polysaccharide capsules (0.4 mg per ml) of culture. Capsule-deficient mutants of BD4 failed to reduce drag. The cell-bound polysaccharide demonstrated a threefold-higher drag-reducing activity than the polymer which was free in solution. |
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