Effect of phosphate availability on biofilm formation in cooling towers |
| |
Authors: | Ingrid S. M. Pinel Lan Hee Kim Vitor R. Proença Borges Nadia M. Farhat Geert-Jan Witkamp Mark C. M. van Loosdrecht |
| |
Affiliation: | 1. Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands;2. I.S.M.Pinel@tudelft.nl;4. Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia |
| |
Abstract: | AbstractPhosphate limitation has been suggested as a preventive method against biofilms. P-limited feed water was studied as a preventive strategy against biofouling in cooling towers (CTs). Three pilot-scale open recirculating CTs were operated in parallel for five weeks. RO permeate was fed to the CTs (1) without supplementation (reference), (2) with supplementation by biodegradable carbon (P-limited) and (3) with supplementation of all nutrients (non-P-limited). The P-limited water contained ≤10?µg PO4 l?1. Investigating the CT-basins and coupons showed that P-limited water (1) did not prevent biofilm formation and (2) resulted in a higher volume of organic matter per unit of active biomass compared with the other CTs. Exposure to external conditions and cycle of concentration were likely factors that allowed a P concentration sufficient to cause extensive biofouling despite being the limiting compound. In conclusion, phosphate limitation in cooling water is not a suitable strategy for CT biofouling control. |
| |
Keywords: | Biofouling nutrient limitations water quality biofilm composition microbial community analyses principal component analysis |
|
|