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Linking microbial slime community structure with abiotic factors and antifouling strategy in hydroelectric cooling systems

  • Biotechnology and Industrial Microbiology - Research Paper
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Abstract

Microfouling can have significant economic impacts for hydroelectric power plants. However, knowledge concerning the composition and metabolism of microbial biofilm in cooling systems remains scarce. We examined the metagenome present in a cooling system, comprising a filter (F) and heat exchanger (HE), in the Nova Ponte hydroelectric power plant in Brazil, to identify bacteria and pathways that could be targeted to monitor and control biofilm formation. Our data revealed that the microfouling sample from heat exchanger 1 (HEM1), with porous consistency, presented enriched bacterial members not frequently described as biofilm formers in cooling systems, besides it has been shown to be an autoinducer repression pathway. Furthermore, the microfouling sample from heat exchanger 2 (HEM2), with gelatinous consistency, seemed to be an established biofilm, containing enriched bacterial groups such as Desulfotomaculum and Crenothrix and autoinducers, with biotechnological relevance in industrial biofilms. The results demonstrate that biofilm composition will vary depending on different abiotic conditions and the antifouling strategy used, including type of compound, concentration, and frequency of use. Therefore, all these variables must be evaluated when a power plant is affected by microbial slime in the cooling system. Our findings could help to define strategies for efficient and ecofriendly measures to contain microfouling in power plants.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais (CEMIG) R&Ds ANEEL GT-343 and GT-0604.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Bioengenharia de Espécies Invasoras de Hidrelétricas (CBEIH), Avenida José Cândido da Silveira, 2100/09, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31035-536, Brazil

    Mariana de Paula Reis, Rayan Silva de Paula, Clara Carvalho e Souza & Renato Brito de Oliveira Júnior

  2. Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Rayan Silva de Paula, Clara Carvalho e Souza, Renato Brito de Oliveira Júnior & Antonio Valadão Cardoso

  3. Escola de Design, Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais (UEMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Antonio Valadão Cardoso

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  1. Mariana de Paula Reis
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  2. Rayan Silva de Paula
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Correspondence to Mariana de Paula Reis.

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Supplementary information

ESM 1:

Figure S1. Microbial slime in the heat exchangers of the Nova Ponte hydroelectric power plant. (A) HEM1 sample. (B) HEM2 sample. (TIF 2778 kb)

ESM 2:

Figure S2. An integrated view of nitrogen metabolism of the cooling system components of the Nova Ponte hydroelectric power plant. Gray squares represent the presence of an enzyme sequence in the (A) HEM1 metagenome, (B) HEM2 metagenome, (C) FS metagenome. (TIF 383 kb)

ESM 3:

Figure S3. An integrated view of methane metabolism of the cooling system components of the Nova Ponte hydroelectric power plant. Gray squares represent the presence of an enzyme sequence in the (A) HEM1 metagenome, (B) HEM2 metagenome, (C) FS metagenome. (TIF 201 kb)

ESM 4:

Figure S4. An integrated view of sulfur metabolism of the cooling system components of the Nova Ponte hydroelectric power plant. Gray squares represent the presence of an enzyme sequence in the (A) HEM1 metagenome, (B) HEM2 metagenome, (C) FS metagenome. (TIF 367 kb)

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Reis, M.d., de Paula, R.S., e Souza, C.C. et al. Linking microbial slime community structure with abiotic factors and antifouling strategy in hydroelectric cooling systems. Braz J Microbiol 54, 1547–1557 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42770-023-01020-3

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