Method for quantifying influence of microorganism mat inclination angle on particle capturing and bonding capacity

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for quantifying influence of inclination angles of microbial mats on capturing and bonding capacity of particles. The method comprises the following steps: culturing microbial mats meeting experimental conditions according to physical and chemical conditions of a sampling point water body; the method comprises the following steps: taking a plurality of microbial mats meeting experimental conditions, carrying out multiple groups of capture experiments according to different inclination angle conditions, measuring the weight of particles captured by the microbial mats for each group of capture experiments, continuously culturing the microbial mats after capturing the particles, and measuring the weight of the particles adhered to the microbial mats after the capture experiments are finished; the method comprises the following steps: taking a plurality of microorganism mats meeting conditions, sterilizing and cleaning, carrying out a plurality of groups of blank experiments according to different inclination angle conditions, measuring the weight of particles captured by the microorganism mats according to each group of blank experiments, and continuously culturing the microorganism mats after capturing the particles, after the blank experiment is finished, measuring the weight of particles adhered to the microorganism mat; by comparing the measurement results of the capture experiment and the blank experiment, determining the weight ratio of the microorganism mat to capture and bond the particles under different inclination angle conditions, and analyzing the influence of the inclination angle on the capacity of the microorganism mat to capture and bond the particles based on the weight ratio.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of microbial and microbial rock research technology, and in particular to a method for quantifying the effect of microbial mat inclination angle on the ability to capture and bind particles. Background Technology

[0002] Microbial rocks refer to "organic sediments formed by benthic microbial communities through the capture and binding of clastic sediments, or through in-situ mineral precipitation induced by microorganisms in an inorganic / organic manner," encompassing both capture and binding, and induced precipitation. The metabolic processes of microorganisms (such as cyanobacteria and diatoms) can produce large amounts of electronegative extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), which overcome energy barriers, absorb cations from the surrounding water, and thus induce in-situ precipitation of carbonate rocks. Specifically, the capture and binding process refers to the blocking and protection of particles by uncalcified microorganisms and the EPS mucus matrix within the microbial mat, causing water-borne particles to precipitate and form sediments. This process is considered crucial for the formation and development of fine-grained to coarse-grained aggregated stromatolites and tuffaceous rocks in ancient and modern Bahamas and Shark Bay, such as the Lower Cretaceous "aggregate coarse-grained" stromatolites of the Iberian Basin.

[0003] Studies have shown that, in both ancient and modern environments, the capture and binding of microbial mats are closely related to microbial community ecology, hydrodynamics, water saturation, particle size, and underground topographic relief. Specifically, petrographic analysis has revealed that some grain-rich aggregated stromatolites exhibit conical, columnar, and dome-shaped stromatolastic structures, with significant differences in particle size and quantity distribution at different locations within the stromatolastic structure. For example, large particles tend to aggregate at the top of the stromatolastic structure (i.e., when the microbial mat dips at 0°), while fine particles dominate in near-vertical locations. Figure 2 ).

[0004] Although this characteristic has been recognized, the extent to which microbial mats at different dip angles affect the binding and trapping capacity of particles of different sizes remains unclear, and quantitative constraints are lacking. This significantly limits our in-depth understanding of the formation mechanisms of ancient aggregated stromatolites and tuffaceous rocks, as well as the evolutionary history of microorganisms (such as cyanobacteria). Existing experimental techniques primarily focus on inducing the growth of carbonate minerals such as calcite and dolomite through microbial mat cultivation, providing valuable experimental guidance for studying the century-old mystery of "dolomite." Therefore, there is an urgent need for an experimental method to quantitatively characterize the influence of microorganisms at different dip angles on particle trapping and binding capacity, which will help to quantitatively assess the metabolic activities of ancient microbial communities and the formation process of microbial rocks.

[0005] After searching patents and literature, the Derwent database shows that: Patent CN112308936A discloses a method for determining the influence of microbial activity on the development of microbial carbonate reservoirs, bridging the relationship between the strength of microbial activity and structure and the reservoir. This method quantitatively characterizes the influence of the inclination angle of microbial mats on their ability to capture and bind particles, providing a reference for the formation of microbial rocks in this patent. Therefore, it addresses the formation mechanism of microbial rocks from a mechanistic perspective, although there are differences in the technical field and application scenarios. Patent CN111411127A discloses a method for inducing calcium carbonate precipitation using microorganisms by adding sodium montmorillonite. Accelerating calcium carbonate precipitation is one of the processes in microbial rock formation (induced precipitation). However, this method differs in that it addresses another capture and bonding process in microbial rock formation through microbial culture experiments, which differs from existing technologies in terms of method, purpose, and application. Patent CN110628624B discloses a magnetic microbial capture material and method, which greatly enhances the capture efficiency of magnetic beads through the introduction of magnetic materials. In contrast, this method captures and bonds particles under different microbial mat inclination angles, rather than microbial particles themselves. It belongs to the fields of microbiology and geological sedimentology, and differs significantly from existing technologies in terms of method and purpose. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the aforementioned technical problems, at least one embodiment of the present invention provides a method for quantifying the effect of microbial mat inclination angle on the ability to capture and bind particles. This method quantitatively calibrates the effect of microbial mat inclination angle on capture and binding, identifies the distribution locations of particles of different sizes, and lays an experimental data foundation and technical method for quantitative research on the formation mechanism and deposition process of ancient microbial communities and columnar and dome-shaped stromatolites.

[0007] In some optional embodiments, the method mainly includes the following steps:

[0008] Microbial mats that meet the experimental conditions are cultivated based on the physicochemical conditions of the water at the sampling point;

[0009] Take several microbial mats that meet the experimental conditions and conduct multiple sets of capture experiments according to different tilt angles. For each set of capture experiments, measure the weight of the particles captured by the microbial mats and continue to cultivate the microbial mats after capturing the particles. After the capture experiments are completed, measure the weight of the particles adhered to the microbial mats.

[0010] Take several qualified microbial mats, sterilize and clean them, and conduct multiple sets of blank experiments under different tilt angles. For each set of blank experiments, measure the weight of particles captured by the microbial mat, and continue to cultivate the microbial mat after capturing particles. After the blank experiments are completed, measure the weight of particles adhered to the microbial mat.

[0011] By comparing the measurement results of the capture experiment and the blank experiment, the weight ratio of particles captured and bound by the microbial mat under different tilt angles was determined, and the influence of the tilt angle on the ability of the microbial mat to capture and bind particles was analyzed based on the weight ratio.

[0012] In some optional embodiments, the physicochemical conditions of the water body at the sampling point include one or more of the following: seawater illumination, temperature, salinity, pH, anion and cation composition, and nutrients.

[0013] In some optional embodiments, the cultivation of a microbial mat that meets experimental conditions based on the physicochemical conditions of the water at the sampling point includes:

[0014] The types and components of the microbial mat were determined by rRNA gene sequence analysis.

[0015] Determine whether the microbial mat meets the experimental conditions based on its type and composition.

[0016] In some optional embodiments, determining whether the microbial mat meets the experimental conditions based on its type and composition includes:

[0017] Calculate the percentage of principal components in the microbial mat;

[0018] When the proportion of the main component in the microbial mat exceeds a preset threshold, the microbial mat is determined to meet the experimental conditions.

[0019] In some optional embodiments, the method further includes, prior to performing the capture experiment:

[0020] Based on the physicochemical conditions of the water at the sampling point, the relevant conditions of the microbial mat experimental environment were set up, and a preliminary experimental analysis of the tilt angle was conducted to determine the maximum value of the tilt angle.

[0021] In some optional embodiments, the multiple capture / blank experiments performed under different tilt angle conditions include:

[0022] Set the tilt angle conditions for each group of experiments according to the predetermined tilt angle intervals.

[0023] In some optional embodiments, the analysis of the effect of the tilt angle on the ability of the microbial mat to capture and bind particles based on the weight percentage includes:

[0024] The relationship between the tilt angle and the percentage of particles of different sizes captured and bonded by the microbial mat was fitted. Based on the fitting results, the influence of the tilt angle on the ability of the microbial mat to capture and bond particles of different sizes, as well as the distribution trend of particles of different sizes in the stacked structure, were analyzed.

[0025] At least one embodiment of the present invention also provides an electronic device, characterized in that it comprises:

[0026] At least one processor; and,

[0027] A memory communicatively connected to the at least one processor; wherein,

[0028] The memory stores instructions that can be executed by the at least one processor to enable the at least one processor to perform the previously described method for quantifying the effect of microbial mat tilt angle on the ability to capture and bind particles.

[0029] At least one embodiment of the present invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the method described above for quantifying the effect of microbial mat tilt angle on the ability to capture and bind particles.

[0030] At least one embodiment of the present invention also provides a computer program product, including a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the method described above for quantifying the effect of microbial mat tilt angle on the ability to capture and bind particles.

[0031] This invention provides a method for quantifying the effect of the inclination angle of microbial mats on their ability to capture and bind particles. This method is simple, highly feasible, and yields significant results, effectively filling a gap in existing microbial experimental techniques. It can quantitatively characterize the influence of different inclination angles on the capture and binding ability of microbial mats, and identify characteristics such as particle size, relative content, and distribution location in different parts of stromatolite structures. This lays an important experimental foundation for quantitatively studying the scale and metabolic processes of ancient microbial communities, as well as the formation mechanism and deposition process of aggregated stromatolites. It has wide applications in microbial mineralization and reservoir prediction. Attached Figure Description

[0032] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, and these illustrative descriptions do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments.

[0033] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of the steps of the method for quantifying the effect of the tilt angle of the microbial mat on the ability to capture and bind particles, as used in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 2 This is an example of how ancient microbial mats capture and bind particles of different sizes in Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 3 This is a cross-plot of different tilt angles and the percentage of different particle sizes captured by the cyanobacterial mat in Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 4 This is a cross-plot of different tilt angles and the percentage of different particle sizes bonded to the cyanobacterial mat in Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0037] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, those skilled in the art will understand that many technical details are presented in the embodiments of the present invention to facilitate a better understanding of the invention. However, the technical solutions claimed in the present invention can be implemented even without these technical details and various variations and modifications based on the following embodiments. The division of the following embodiments is for ease of description and should not constitute any limitation on the specific implementation of the present invention. The various embodiments can be combined with and referenced by each other without contradiction.

[0038] As previously stated, this invention aims to provide a method for quantifying the effect of the tilt angle of a microbial mat on its ability to capture and bind particles, comprising the following steps: culturing the microbial mat under simulated hydrological conditions at indoor sampling points; identifying the principal components of the microorganisms using rRNA technology; developing a tilt angle setting scheme; fixing the microbial mat in water tanks at different tilt angles, weighing particles of the same weight but different sizes for later use, conducting microbial mat capture experiments at different tilt angles, weighing the uncaptured particles, continuing to cultivate the experimental samples, and weighing the unbound particles after the experiment; performing a blank experiment after autoclaving and ethanol cleaning of the microbial mat; quantitatively calculating the proportion of particles captured and bound by the microbial mat at different tilt angles by comparing the experimental results, and fitting the relationship between the tilt angle and the percentage of particles of different sizes.

[0039] Example 1

[0040] like Figure 1 As shown, this method mainly includes the following steps:

[0041] S01, Microbial culture: The physical and chemical conditions of the water body at the indoor sampling point are simulated. The collected microbial mats are placed in a large water tank for a certain period of time for culture. The growth of the microbial community is observed to determine its evolution to the mature stage.

[0042] S02, Microbial species identification: Divide the microbial mat into several equal-sized portions, take several portions for rRNA gene sequence analysis, determine the microbial species and main components, and check whether they meet the experimental standards (>90%).

[0043] S03, Microbial mat inclination angle setting: Based on typical cases, the top of the stromatolite structure is set to horizontal 0°, and the maximum inclination angle is set from the top to the bottom of the stromatolite structure. Several sets of experiments are set at certain angle intervals.

[0044] S04, Experimental preparation: Take several portions of microbial mats and place them in petri dishes, then fix them in large water tanks at different inclination angles. The physical and chemical conditions of the water tanks and the outside environment are the same as in step S01. Further, weigh particles of the same weight but different particle sizes for later use.

[0045] S05, Capture Experiment: Microbial mat capture experiments were conducted at different inclination angles for each particle size. Specifically, the particles were gently placed on the microbial mat, allowed to stand for a short time, and then the uncaptured particles were collected, dried, and weighed. The weight data of the captured particles for each group were recorded.

[0046] S06, Adhesion Experiment: The experimental sample in step S05 is cultured for a period of time. After the experiment is completed, the unadhesive particles are collected by inverting the sample, dried, weighed, and the weight data of each group of adhered particles are recorded.

[0047] S07, Blank Experiment Comparison: Several microbial mats were taken for a blank experiment comparison. The experimental conditions and procedures were the same as in steps S05 and S06, except that the microbial mats underwent autoclaving and ethanol cleaning. After the experiment, the uncaptured and unbonded particles were collected, dried, and weighed. The weight data of the captured and bonded particles in each group were recorded.

[0048] S08, Quantitatively calculate the proportion of particles captured and bound by the microbial mat at different inclination angles: Specifically, calculate the weight ratio of particles captured and bound by the microbial mat at different inclination angles in experiments for each particle size, and further, quantitatively evaluate the index δ value of the ability of each microbial mat to capture and bind particles of different sizes.

[0049] Example 2

[0050] In another embodiment of the present invention, taking cyanobacterial microbial mats as an example, experiments were conducted on microbial mats with different tilt angles to quantitatively characterize the effect of tilt angle on the capture and adhesion ability of particles of different sizes.

[0051] The specific implementation steps are as follows:

[0052] S01, Microbial Culture: Simulating the seawater conditions (light, temperature, salinity, pH, anion and cation composition, nutrients) of region A in the South China Sea, the collected cyanobacterial mats were placed in a 1m×1m×1m large water tank for cultivation. The tank was connected to a bubbler to prevent excessive oxygen accumulation. Further, the growth of the cyanobacteria was observed. When the cyanobacteria stopped growing significantly, showed no signs of decay, and continued to produce bubbles, it indicated that the cyanobacterial mat had evolved to a mature and stable stage, capable of producing the maximum amount of EPS (excessive sludge matrix).

[0053] S02, Microbial species identification: The mature cyanobacterial mat from step 1 was divided into 36 equal parts, each measuring 15cm × 15cm × 15cm. Three parts from different regions were analyzed for rRNA gene sequence testing, identifying cyanobacteria, diatoms, sulfate-reducing bacteria, and other microbial components. The cyanobacteria content, primarily *Coleofasciculus*, averaged 95%, meeting the experimental standards.

[0054] S03, Microbial mat angle setting: Based on the case study of Precambrian stromatolites, the top of the stromatolite structure was set to be horizontal at 0°, and the maximum inclination angle from the top to the bottom of the stromatolite structure was set to be 70°. The inclination angle was increased in increments of 10°, and eight groups of microbial mat simulation experiments with different inclination angles of 0°, 10°, 20°, 30°, 40°, 50°, 60° and 70° were set.

[0055] S04, Pre-experiment preparation: Take 24 cyanobacterial mats and conduct multiple capture and adhesion experiments at different inclination angles. Place the cyanobacterial mats from each group into 20cm×20cm×20cm petri dishes and then fix them into the same large water tank (1m×1m×1m). Similarly, the physicochemical conditions inside and outside the water tank are the same as in step S01. Further, weigh 24 5g portions of particles with the same weight and particle sizes of 0.25-0.5mm (silt grade), 0.5-2.0mm (medium sand grade), and 2.0-3.0mm (coarse sand grade) for later use.

[0056] S05, Capture Experiment: In step S04, each experiment has 3 cyanobacterial mats. Three different particle sizes are weighed and gently placed into each mat. A total of 8 capture experiments are conducted at tilt angles of 0° to 70°. After standing for half an hour, the uncaptured particles in each petri dish are collected, dried, and weighed. The weight data of the different particles captured in each group are recorded as a1 to a3.

[0057] S06, Adhesion Experiment: In step S05, the 24 cyanobacterial mat experimental samples were cultured for another 18 hours. After the experiment was completed, the samples were inverted and the unadheded particles in each culture dish were collected. After drying, the particles were weighed and the weight data of different particle sizes of each group of adhered particles were recorded as b1 to b3.

[0058] S07, Blank Experiment Comparison: Three samples of cyanobacterial mats were used for a blank experiment comparing fine sand particles. The experimental conditions and procedures were the same as in steps S04 and S05. The difference was that the cyanobacterial mats underwent autoclaving and ethanol cleaning. After the experiment, uncaptured and unbonded particles were collected, dried, and weighed. The weight data for each group of captured and bonded particles of different sizes were c1-3 and d1-3.

[0059] S08, Quantitatively calculate the proportion of particles captured and bound by the microbial mat at different inclination angles: Calculate the weight percentage of particles of different sizes captured and bound by the cyanobacterial mat in each group (Formulas 1 and 2). Furthermore, fit the relationship between the inclination angle and the percentage of silt, medium sand, and coarse sand particles captured and bound by the cyanobacterial mat, respectively, to analyze the particle capture and binding capacity of the cyanobacterial mat and the distribution trend of different particle sizes in the stromatolite structure. Specifically, the calculation formulas are as follows:

[0060]

[0061]

[0062] Where m represents the total weight (g) of particles of different sizes before the experiment, x and y represent the weight (g) of uncaptured and bonded particles after each group of experiments, respectively, Pcapture represents the percentage (%) of captured particles of different sizes in each group, and Bbond represents the percentage (%) of captured particles bonded after bonding. The Pcapture and Bbond data, fitting curves, and formulas for capturing and bonding particles of different sizes in each group are shown in the example. Figure 3 and Figure 4 The results of this embodiment show that: (1) as the tilt angle of the microbial mat increases, the ability to capture and bind particles fluctuates but gradually decreases; (2) the smaller the tilt angle, the easier it is to capture particles; coarse particles are more effective at tilt angles of 10-30°; (3) the blank experimental group still has the ability to capture particles and has a certain binding ability, but it is not affected by the tilt angle. Figure 3 and Figure 4 This result is consistent with observations of ancient stromatolites, namely that large-diameter particles in microbial mats are mainly distributed at the top of the stromatolite structure. Figure 2 ).

[0063] This embodiment uses a cyanobacterial microbial mat as a specific example to quantitatively characterize the effect of tilt angle on the ability of the cyanobacterial mat to capture and bind particles, effectively filling the gap in this experimental aspect of existing technology. Preferably, the cyanobacteria in this embodiment are one of the most common types of ancient and modern microorganisms. This method is effective against other microorganisms such as red and green algae, diatoms, and sulfate-reducing bacteria. Therefore, any modifications that do not deviate from the essence of this method still fall within the scope of the technical solution of this invention, such as changes in the type of microorganism or the tilt angle setting.

[0064] Example 3

[0065] Another embodiment of the present invention relates to an electronic device, comprising: at least one processor; and a memory communicatively connected to the at least one processor; wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the at least one processor to enable the at least one processor to perform the methods of quantifying the effect of microbial mat tilt angle on the ability to capture and bind particles as described in the above embodiments.

[0066] The memory and processor are connected via a bus, which can include any number of interconnecting buses and bridges, connecting various circuits of one or more processors and memories. The bus can also connect various other circuits, such as peripheral devices, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and will not be described further herein. The bus interface provides an interface between the bus and the transceiver. The transceiver can be a single element or multiple elements, such as multiple receivers and transmitters, providing a unit for communicating with various other devices over a transmission medium. Data processed by the processor is transmitted over the wireless medium via an antenna, which further receives data and transmits it to the processor.

[0067] The processor manages the bus and general processing, and also provides various functions, including timing, peripheral interfaces, voltage regulation, power management, and other control functions. Memory is used to store data used by the processor during operation.

[0068] Example 4

[0069] Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program. When executed by a processor, the computer program implements the method described above for quantifying the effect of microbial mat tilt angle on the ability to capture and bind particles.

[0070] That is, those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps in the methods of the above embodiments can be implemented by a program instructing related hardware. This program is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a device (which may be a microcontroller, chip, etc.) or processor to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of the present invention. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0071] Example 5

[0072] Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a computer program product, including a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the method described above for quantifying the effect of microbial mat tilt angle on the ability to capture and bind particles.

[0073] Those skilled in the art will understand that the above embodiments are specific embodiments for implementing the present invention, and in practical applications, various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for quantifying the effect of microbial mat tilt angle on the ability to capture and bind particles, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Microbial mats that meet the experimental conditions are cultivated based on the physicochemical conditions of the water at the sampling point; Take several microbial mats that meet the experimental conditions and conduct multiple sets of capture experiments according to different tilt angles. For each set of capture experiments, measure the weight of the particles captured by the microbial mats and continue to cultivate the microbial mats after capturing the particles. After the capture experiments are completed, measure the weight of the particles adhered to the microbial mats. Take several qualified microbial mats, sterilize and clean them, and conduct multiple sets of blank experiments under different tilt angles. For each set of blank experiments, measure the weight of particles captured by the microbial mat, and continue to cultivate the microbial mat after capturing particles. After the blank experiments are completed, measure the weight of particles adhered to the microbial mat. By comparing the measurement results of the capture experiment and the blank experiment, the weight ratio of particles captured and bound by the microbial mat under different tilt angles was determined, and the influence of the tilt angle on the ability of the microbial mat to capture and bind particles was analyzed based on the weight ratio.

2. The method for quantifying the effect of microbial mat tilt angle on the ability to capture and bind particles according to claim 1, characterized in that, The physicochemical conditions of the water at the sampling point include one or more of the following: seawater illumination, temperature, salinity, pH, anion and cation composition, and nutrients.

3. The method for quantifying the effect of microbial mat tilt angle on the ability to capture and bind particles according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cultivation of microbial mats that meet experimental conditions based on the physicochemical conditions of the water at the sampling point includes: The types and components of the microbial mat were determined by rRNA gene sequence analysis. Determine whether the microbial mat meets the experimental conditions based on its type and composition.

4. The method for quantifying the effect of microbial mat tilt angle on the ability to capture and bind particles according to claim 3, characterized in that, The step of determining whether the microbial mat meets the experimental conditions based on its type and composition includes: Calculate the percentage of principal components in the microbial mat; When the proportion of the main component in the microbial mat exceeds a preset threshold, the microbial mat is determined to meet the experimental conditions.

5. The method for quantifying the effect of microbial mat tilt angle on the ability to capture and bind particles according to claim 1, characterized in that, Prior to conducting the capture experiment, the method further includes: Based on the physicochemical conditions of the water at the sampling point, the relevant conditions of the microbial mat experimental environment were set, and a preliminary experimental analysis of the tilt angle was conducted to determine the maximum value of the tilt angle.

6. The method for quantifying the effect of microbial mat tilt angle on the ability to capture and bind particles according to claim 1, characterized in that, The multiple capture / blank experiments conducted under different tilt angle conditions include: Set the tilt angle conditions for each group of experiments according to the predetermined tilt angle intervals.

7. The method for quantifying the effect of microbial mat tilt angle on the ability to capture and bind particles according to claim 1, characterized in that, The analysis of the influence of the tilt angle on the ability of the microbial mat to capture and bind particles based on the weight ratio includes: The relationship between the tilt angle and the percentage of particles of different sizes captured and bonded by the microbial mat was fitted. Based on the fitting results, the influence of the tilt angle on the ability of the microbial mat to capture and bond particles of different sizes, as well as the distribution trend of particles of different sizes in the stacked structure, were analyzed.

8. An electronic device, characterized in that, include: At least one processor; as well as, A memory communicatively connected to the at least one processor; wherein, The memory stores instructions executable by the at least one processor to enable the at least one processor to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7 for quantifying the effect of microbial mat tilt angle on the ability to capture and bind particles.

9. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, characterized in that, When the computer program is executed by a processor, it implements the method of any one of claims 1 to 7 for quantifying the effect of the inclination angle of the microbial mat on the ability to capture and bind particles.

10. A computer program product, comprising a computer program, characterized in that, When executed by a processor, the computer program implements the steps of the method for quantifying the effect of the inclination angle of the microbial mat on the ability to capture and bind particles, as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

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