Microbial growth and contamination ("Biofouling") in water systems represents a significant threat to the quality of waters produced for the microelectronic, pharmaceutical, petroleum, paper, food and other manufacturing industries. Biofouling can lead to biologically induced corrosion ("Biocorrosion"), which can cause severe damage to the equipment. Both biofouling and biocorrosion are frequently not recognized in time, underestimated, or linked with the wrong causes. The book represents a new approach by introducing biofilm properties and dynamics as basic principles of biofouling and biocorrosion, thus providing a better understanding and the means of fighting the undesired effects of biofilms. The most important features are: Case histories of biofouling in water treatment.- Detection and monitoring of biofouling.- Reverse osmosis membrane biofouling.- Biocide efficacy and biofouling control.- Plant design considerations for preventing biofouling.- Case histories of biocorrosion.- Detection, monitoring, control and prevention of biocorrosion.- Fundamentals of biofouling and biocorrosion mechanisms.

Biofouling is a costly problem, and it is encountered in a wide spectrum of technical systems, ranging from the shipping industry, power industry, water purification, automobile industry, paint and pharmaceuticals, to the microelectronics and food industries. Micro- and macroorganisms attach to surfaces and accumulate there, forming biofilms that cause interferences – a fundamentally natural process. Usually, a medical paradigm is applied: kill biofilms and the problem is solved. This leads to excessive biocide use. However, the success of this strategy is very limited; furthermore it leads to equipment damage and environmental pollution. Simply trying to kill the fouling organisms is clearly not seen as a successful strategy while cleaning is put forward as much more important. In this book, strategies to prevent adhesion, to mitigate the extent and effects of biofouling, and to detect and remove fouling layers are presented. Holistic approaches to the fouling process are elaborated, taking into account options such as nutrient limitation, repellent and easy-to-clean surfaces for fouling layer limitation, and replacing biocides with more environmentally friendly methods – in other words: learning how to live with fouling biofilms without suffering the damage they can do.

Biocorrosion refers to corrosion influenced by bacteria adhering to surfaces in biofilms. Biocorrosion is a major problem in areas such as cooling systems and marine structures where biofilms can develop. This book summarises key recent research in this subject. Part one looks at theories of biocorrosion and measurement techniques. Part two discusses how bacteria and biofilms result in biocorrosion. The final part of the book includes case studies of biocorrosion in areas as diverse as buildings, fuels, marine environments and cooling systems. - Provides a detailed overview of biocorrosion and the different scientific and/or industrial problems related to microbially induced corrosion - Introduces a variety of investigative techniques and methodologies that are employed in diagnosing and evaluating microbially induced corrosion - Includes case studies on: biodeterioration of building materials; biocorrosion issues associated with diesel and biofuels; marine biocorrosion; corrosion of open recirculating cooling water systems and cooling system components; the effect of H2S on steel corrosion

The Manual of Biocorrosion explains the microbiology, electrochemistry, and surface phenomena involved in biocorrosion and biofouling processes. Written primarily for non-specialists, the information in this manual is practical and offers a comprehensive look at the three components of biocorrosion: the microorganisms, the metal, and the aqueous environment. It also addresses methods for the monitoring, prevention, and control of biocorrosion. The first part of the book covers the fundamental aspects of microbiology, electrochemistry, and biofouling of metal surfaces. The second half describes biocorrosion assessment in the laboratory and the field, the main control and mitigation procedures used, practical case studies, and laboratory methods and formulations. The Manual of Biocorrosion is the book the industrial sector (water treatment plants, oil refineries, etc.) has been waiting for, providing the basics for implementing prevention, control, and mitigation procedures. In addition, it covers the latest industry trends with discussions of biocide selection, strategies for treating biocorrosion without harming the environment, and the latest monitoring programs. The academic sector will benefit as well from the up-to-date information on mechanisms and recent advances in all biocorrosion aspects and technology. Research trends such as the application of surface analysis techniques and modern electron microscopy, the use of conventional and innovative electrochemical techniques for assessment, and microbial inhibition of corrosion are all considered. Features 100 illustrations provide you with a visual understanding of the problems and techniques discussed 30 tables give you quick access to data 46 suggested readings provide references on books, conference and workshop proceedings, and special issues of scientific journals and technical publications specifically devoted to biocorrosion and biofouling 454 reference

Biofilms -- Science and Technology covers the main topics of biofilm formation and activity, from basic science to applied aspects in engineering and medicine. The book presents a masterly discussion of microbial adhesion, the metabolism of microorganisms in biofilms, modelling of mass transfer and biological reaction within biofilms, as well as the behaviour of these microbial communities in industry (waste water treatment, heat exchanger biofouling, membranes, food processing) and in medicine (teeth, implants, prosthetic devices). Laboratory techniques and industrial monitoring methods are also presented. The book is directed at readers at the postgraduate level and is organised as a textbook, containing 11 chapters, a glossary, and a detailed subject index.

The use of water for industrial purposes is of foremost importance. It is used as a coolant and industrial activities dealing with power generation, steel and iron, paper and pulp and oil require very large amounts of water. The industry, therefore, resorts to large scale abstraction of water from natural water bodies. This water is often treated with chemicals to combat operational problems like biofouling and corrosion. Such withdrawal and subsequent discharge of large amounts of water have the potential to impart significant impact on the recipient water body. The organisms drawn along with the cooling water, as well as those residing at the discharge zone, are subjected to a combination of mechanical, thermal and chemical stress on a continuous basis.

The central theme of the book is the flow of information from experimental approaches in biofilm research to simulation and modeling of complex wastewater systems. Probably the greatest challenge in wastewater research lies in using the methods and the results obtained in one scientific discipline to design intelligent experiments in other disciplines, and eventually to improve the knowledge base the practitioner needs to run wastewater treatment plants. The purpose of Biofilms in Wastewater Treatment is to provide engineers with the knowledge needed to apply the new insights gained by researchers. The authors provide an authoritative insight into the function of biofilms on a technical and on a lab-scale, cover some of the exciting new basic microbiological and wastewater engineering research involving molecular biology techniques and microscopy, and discuss recent attempts to predict the development of biofilms. This book is divided into 3 sections: Modeling and Simulation; Architecture, Population Structure and Function; and From Fundamentals to Practical Application, which all start with a scientific question. Individual chapters attempt to answer the question and present different angles of looking at problems. In addition there is an extensive glossary to familiarize the non-expert with unfamiliar terminology used by microbiologists and computational scientists. The colour plate section of this book can be downloaded by clicking here. (PDF Format 1 MB)