Biofilms are implicated in a wide range of water processes, both domestic and industrial.  Biofilms grow on the surface of process equipment and impede the performance of the equipment, such as degradation of heat transfer or plugging of filters and membranes.  Biofilms in growing on cooling tower fill can add enough weight to cause collapse of the fill.  Biofilms cause corrosion of even highly specialized stainless steels.  Biofilms in a water process can degrade the value of a final product such as biofilm contamination in a paper process or the attachment of even a single cell on a silicon chip.  Biofilms growing in drinking water distribution systems can harbor potential pathogenic organisms, corrosive organisms or bacteria that degrade the aesthetic quality of the water.

CBE Industrial Associate members in the specialty chemicals   industry