Title: Impact of biofilms in simulated drinking water and urban heat supply systems

Authors: F.A. Lopes, P. Morin, R. Oliveira, L.F. Melo

Addresses: Laboratoire de Genie des Procedes et Materiaux, Laboratory of Chemical and Material Engineering, Ecole Centrale Paris, Grande Voie des Vignes, 92295 Chatenay-Malabry Cedex, France. ' BRAIBANT MORIN Expertises, 75 Avenue Parmentier, 75544 Paris Cedex 11, France. ' Department of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal. ' Faculty of Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Porto, P-4200465, Porto, Portugal

Abstract: Biofouling and biocorrosion were studied in drinking water and heating water systems by forming biofilms on steel and on polymethylmetacrylate. In the drinking water system, biofilm development was more significant on corroded surfaces, suggesting that in these conditions they were largely protected from disinfection, probably because of sheltering and chlorine demand by corrosion products. In the urban heat supply system, results suggest a higher biofilm activity at lower pH. Sulphate-reducing bacteria were detected in the urban heating biofilms, but little corrosion was observed on steel coupons. Results indicate that surface and bulk medium properties, as well as bacterial diversity are determinant parameters when studying biofouling and biocorrosion.

Keywords: biofilms; sulphate reducing bacteria; drinking water; urban heat supply; steel; PMMA; polymethylmetacrylate; FISH; biofouling; biocorrosion; corrosion; bacterial diversity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEE.2009.027805

International Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2009 Vol.1 No.3, pp.276 - 294

Published online: 11 Aug 2009 *

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