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Microbial Fouling and Corrosion: Fundamentals and Mechanisms

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Book cover Operational and Environmental Consequences of Large Industrial Cooling Water Systems

Abstract

Forma of nontransient adherent communities of microorganisms on submerged surfaces (biofilm) is a ubiquitous phenomenon. Over 9% of the all aquatic bacteria are found associated with interfaces such as the sediment–water interface and surface micro-layer of aquatic systems. “Biofilms constitute a consortium of biotic elements like bacteria, cyanobacteria and algae attached to a substratum by microbially produced extracellular polysaccharide matrix which entraps soluble and particulate matter, immobilizes extracellular enzymes and acts as a sink for nutrients and inorganic elements.” The biofilm composition may vary both spatially and temporally with respect to different waters, and greatest differences are usually associated with shifts in the relative importance of autotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biofouling and Biofilms Processes Section, Water and Steam Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Facilities, Kalpakkam, 603 102, Tamil Nadu, India

    Toleti S. Rao

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  1. Toleti S. Rao
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Correspondence to Toleti S. Rao .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Inst. Wetland & Water Research, Dept. Animal Ecology & Ecophysiology, Radboud University Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1, Nijmegen, 6525 ED, Netherlands

    Sanjeevi Rajagopal

  2. Department of Environmental Research, N.V. KEMA, R&D Division, Arnhem, 6800, Netherlands

    Henk A. Jenner

  3. Water & Steam Chemistry Division, Biofouling & Biofilm Processes Section, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, 603102, India

    Vayalam P. Venugopalan

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Rao, T.S. (2012). Microbial Fouling and Corrosion: Fundamentals and Mechanisms. In: Rajagopal, S., Jenner, H., Venugopalan, V. (eds) Operational and Environmental Consequences of Large Industrial Cooling Water Systems. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1698-2_6

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