Method of measuring and controlling the formation of biofilms in a watersystem

摘要

Measurement and control of biofilm formation in an aqueous system involves introducing a test body into the system or into a side branch for a pre-determined time after which color intensity measurements are conducted on the dyed biofilm formed on the test body. Measurement and control of biofilm formation in an aqueous system involves introducing a test body into the system or into a side branch for a pre-determined time after which the following steps are conducted: (a) optionally rinsing the test body with a first aqueous solution; (b) coloring the biofilm on the body with a coloring solution; and (c) rinsing the body with a second aqueous solution whose composition corresponds to that of the first solution or is different and determining the biofilm color intensity by either (i) photometrically measuring the color intensity or estimating it by comparison with a comparison scale or (ii) dissolving off the biofilm-bonded colorant from the body to give a solution whose intensity is photometrically measured or estimated using a scale. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) the above process followed by adding a biocide or biodisperser to the aqueous system should the color intensity of the biofilm exceed a threshold value; and (2) a reagent set comprising 2 or 3 vessels with appropriate concentrations of reagents for use in effecting the measurement.