Studies on enhancement of biofilm formation and adherence due to mechanical treatment of titanium surfaces in cooling-water systems
IR@CECRI: CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Karaikudi
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Title |
Studies on enhancement of biofilm formation and adherence due to mechanical treatment of titanium surfaces in cooling-water systems
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Creator |
George, R.P.
Gopal, J. Muraleedharan, P. Anandkumar, B. Baskaran, R. Maruthamuthu, S. Dayal, R.K. |
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Subject |
Corrosion Protection
Corrosion Science and Engineering |
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Description |
Titanium has proven to be the heat exchanger material of choice for seawater-
cooled power plants owing to its outstanding resistance to pitting and
crevice corrosion in a wide range of aggressive media. However, the inertness
of the titanium surface makes it highly susceptible to biofilm formation and
subsequent biofouling. This can hinder the heat transfer properties and flow
of water. Fouling control strategies in condensers include a combination
of mechanical, chemical and thermal treatments. However, reports from
various industrial situations suggest that mechanical treatment may not
have long-term effects. This study aimed to find out whether mechanical
cleaning eventually enhances biofilm formation and increases the adherence
of biofilm. In our studies epifluorescence micrographs of biofilms on control
and mechanically treated titanium surfaces clearly showed accelerated biofilm
formation as well as increased adherence on themechanically cleaned surface.
Total counts of viable bacteria acquired by culturing technique, and biofilm
thickness measurements made using microscopic techniques, confirmed this
observation. Surface profilometry showed increased roughness of the titanium
surface, facilitating adherence of biofilm. The number of microbial species
was higher on mechanically cleaned and re-exposed surfaces than on fresh
titanium. Thus we concluded that mechanical cleaning can increase biofilm
formation and adherence of biofilm, thereby increasing the potential of
biofouling in the long term.
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Publisher |
Cambridge University Press
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Date |
2008
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Type |
Article
PeerReviewed |
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Format |
application/pdf
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Identifier |
http://cecri.csircentral.net/33/1/007-2008.pdf
George, R.P. and Gopal, J. and Muraleedharan, P. and Anandkumar, B. and Baskaran, R. and Maruthamuthu, S. and Dayal, R.K. (2008) Studies on enhancement of biofilm formation and adherence due to mechanical treatment of titanium surfaces in cooling-water systems. Biofilms. pp. 1-7. |
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Relation |
http://cecri.csircentral.net/33/
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