Non-Newtonian viscosity of Escherichia coli suspensions

JÉRÉMIE GACHELIN; GASTÓN MIÑO; HÉLÈNE BERTHET; ANKE LINDNER; ANNIE ROUSSELET; ÉRIC CLÉMENT

PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS

AMER PHYSICAL SOC

Año: 2013 vol. 110 p. 26810301 - 26810305

0031-9007

The viscosity of an active suspension of E-Coli bacteria is determined experimentally as a function of the shear rate using a Y shaped micro-fluidic channel. From the relative suspension viscosity we identify rheo-thickening and rheo-thinning regimes as well as situations at low shear rate where the viscosity of the bacteria suspension can be lower than the viscosity of the suspending fluid. In addition, bacteria concentration and velocity profiles in the bulk are directly measured in the micro-channel.