Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of Mixed-Species Biofilm on Copper Surfaces in Cooling Water System

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the formation and effect of a biofilm on copper heat exchangers in full-scale system conditions. A modified Pedersen device with copper coupons was installed in parallel to a heat exchanger system to investigate several physico-chemical parameters, such as bacterial enumeration, carbohydrate content of exopolymeric substances, weight loss of test/control coupons, Cu concentrations, and corrosion products over ten months. Findings of this study showed that planktonic bacterial cells attach to each other and form a mixed-species biofilm on the copper coupon surface even though copper is toxic to a variety of microorganisms. These results also revealed that the mixed-species biofilm has a corrosive effect on copper surfaces used in cooling water systems despite the presence of biocide and the corrosion inhibitor. Additionally, it was demonstrated that a shock-dosed biocide application increased the corrosion rate on copper surface in a real system. Preventing risk of microbiologically influenced corrosion entails appropriate material selection and proper/regular chemical treatment of cooling systems. The current study provides useful insights through the evaluation of corrosion of materials with microbiological techniques.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. H.C. Flemming, Biofouling in Water Systems-Cases, Causes and Countermeasures, Appl. Microbiol. Biot., 2002, 59, p 629–640

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. S.G. Choudhary, Emerging Microbial Control Issues in Cooling Water Systems, Hydrocarb. Process., 1998, 77, p 91–102

    Google Scholar 

  3. D.G. Allison, The Biofilm Matrix, Biofouling, 2003, 19, p 139–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. H.H.P. Fang, L.C. Xu, and K.Y. Chan, Effects of Toxic Metals and Chemicals on Biofilm and Biocorrosion, Water Res., 2002, 36, p 4709–4716

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. M. Setareh and R. Javaherdashti, Evaluation of Sessile Microorganisms in Pipelines and Cooling Towers of Some Iranian Industries, J. Mater. Eng. Perform., 2006, 15, p 5–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. R.B. Ritter and J.M. Suitor, Handling and Disposal of Solid, Proceedings of the Second NATL Conference on Complete Water Reuse, Water’s Interface with Energy, Air and Solids (Chicago, IL), 1975, p 604–609

  7. W.A. Hamilton, Microbially Influenced Corrosion as a Model System for the Study of Metal Microbe Interactions: a Unifying Electron Transfer Hypothesis, Biofouling, 2003, 19, p 65–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. C.D. Parker, The Corrosion of Concrete 1. The Isolation of a Species of Bacterium Associated with the Corrosion of Concrete Exposed to Atmospheres Containing Hydrogen Sulphide, Aust. J. Exp. Biol. Med. Sci., 1945, 23, p 81–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. A. Cohen, Corrosion of Copper and Copper Alloys, in ASM Handbook, Corrosion: Materials (Materials Park, OH), ASM International, 2005, Vol. 13B, p 125–163

  10. C. Dutkiewicz and H. Fallowfield, Assessment of Microbial Involvement in the Elevation of Copper Levels in Drinking Water, J. Appl. Microbiol., 1998, 85, p 597–602

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. M.M. Critchley, N.J. Cromar, N. MCclure, and J.H. Fallowfield, Biofilm Accumulation in Cold Water Copper Plumbing Systems and Significance for Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion, J. Appl. Microbiol., 2001, 91, p 1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. D.J. Beale, M.S. Dunn, P.D. Morrison, N.A. Porter, and D.R. Marlow, Characterisation of Bulk Water Samples from Copper Pipes Undergoing Microbially Influenced Corrosion by Diagnostic Metabolomic Profiling, Corros. Sci., 2012, 55, p 272–279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. K. Pedersen, Method for Studying Microbial Biofilms in Flowing-Water Systems, Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 1982, 43, p 6–13

    Google Scholar 

  14. Standard Recommended Practice for Preparing, Cleaning and Evaluating Corrosion Test Specimens G1-72, Annual Book of ASTM standards, ASTM, p 626–629

  15. C.E. Boyd and C.S. Tucker, Water Quality and Pond Soil Analyses for Aquaculture, Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn University, Alabama (1992)

  16. G. Bianucci and E.R. Bianucci, The Chemical Analyse of Natural and Polluted Water, Hoepli, Milano 88203 (1987)

  17. Standards Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. American Public Health Association (APHA), Washington, DC, 0-87553-091-5 (1981)

  18. E. Sungur, B. Minnos, and N. Dogruoz, Isolation of Aerobic Heterotrophic and Anaerobic Sulphate Reducing Bacteria from Model Water System by Filtration Method, IUFS J. Biol., 2008, 67, p 33–38

    Google Scholar 

  19. G.A. Gagnon and R.M. Slawson, An Efficient Biofilm Removal Method for Bacterial Cells Exposed to Drinking Water, J. Microbiol. Met., 1999, 34, p 203–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. W.G. Cochran, Estimation of Bacterial Densities by Means of the Most Probable Number, Biometrics, 1950, 6, p 105–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. D.J. Roberts, D. Nica, G. Zuo, and J.L. Davis, Quantifying Microbially Induced Deterioration of Concrete: Initial Studies, Int. Biodeter. Biodegr., 2002, 49, p 227–234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. J.R. Postgate, The Sulphate Reducing Bacteria, 2nd ed., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1984

    Google Scholar 

  23. X. Zhang, P.L. Bishop, and B.K. Kinkle, Comparison of Extraction Methods for Quantifying Extracellular Polymers in Biofilms, Water Sci. Technol., 1999, 39, p 211–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. M. Dubois, K.A. Gilles, J.K. Hamilton, P.A. Rebers, and F. Smith, Colorimetric Method for Determination of Sugars and Related Substances, Anal. Chem., 1956, 28, p 350–356

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Y.M. Nelson, W. Lo, L.W. Lion, M.L. Shuler, and W.C. Ghirorse, Lead Distribution in a Simulated Aquatic Environment: Effects of Bacterial Biofilms and Iron Oxide, Water Res., 1995, 29, p 1934–1944

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. P. Majzlík, A. Strasky, V. Adam, M. Nemec, L. Trnkova, J. Zehnalek, J. Hubalek, I. Provazník, and R. Kizek, Influence of Zinc(II) and Copper(II) Ions on Streptomyces Bacteria Revealed by Electrochemistry, Int. J. Electrochem. Sci., 2011, 6, p 2171–2191

    Google Scholar 

  27. V. Ochoa-Herrera, G. Leon, Q. Banihani, J.A. Field, and R. Sierra-Alvarez, Toxicity of Copper(II) Ions to Microorganisms in Biological Wastewater Treatment Systems, Sci. Total Environ., 2011, 412-413, p 380–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. E. Van der Wende, W.G. Characklis, and B.D. Smith, Biofilms and Bacterial Drinking Water Quality, Water Res., 1989, 23, p 1313–1322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. M.W. LeChevallier, T.M. Babcock, and R.G. Lee, Examination and Characterization of Distribution Systems Biofilms, Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 1987, 53, p 2714–2724

    Google Scholar 

  30. E. Cloete and H. Curt-Fleming, Environmental Impact of Cooling Water Treatment for Biofouling and Biocorrosion, Operational and Environmental Consequences of Large Industrial Cooling Water Systems, S. Rajagopal, H.A. Jenner, and V.P. Venugopalan, Eds., Springer, 2012, p 303–338, ISBN-10: 1461416973

  31. B.V. Kjellerup, G. Gudmonsson, K. Sowers, and P.H. Nielsen, Evaluation of Analytical Methods for Determining the Distribution of Biofilm and Active Bacteria in Commercial Heating System, Biofouling, 2006, 22, p 145–151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. E.P. Rozanova, G.A. Dubinina, E.V. Lebedeva, L.A. Suntsova, V.M. Lipovskich, and N.N. Tsvetkov, Microorganisms in Heat Supply Systems and Internal Corrosion of Steel Pipelines, Microbiology, 2003, 72, p 179–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. H. Liu, L. Xu, and J. Zeng, Role of Corrosion Products in Biofilms in Microbiologically Induced Corrosion of Carbon Steel, Brit. Corros. J., 2000, 35, p 131–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. T.A.M. Bridge, C. White, and G.M. Gadd, Extracellular Metal-Binding Activity of the Sulphate-Reducing Bacterium Desulfococcus multivorans, Microbiology, 1999, 145, p 2987–2995

    Google Scholar 

  35. S. Jin, J.I. Drever, and P.J. Colberg, Effects of Copper on Sulfate Reduction in Bacterial Consortia Enriched from Metal-Contaminated and Uncontaminated Sediments, Environ. Toxicol. Chem., 2007, 26, p 225–230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. X. Zhang and P.L. Bishop, Biodegradability of Biofilm Extracellular Polymeric Substances, Chemosphere, 2003, 50, p 63–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. M.J. Lethola, I.T. Miettinen, M.M. Keinanen, T.K. Kekki, O. Laine, A. Hirvonen, T. Vartiainen, and P.J. Martikainen, Microbiology, Chemistry and Biofilm Development in a Pilot Drinking Water Distribution System with Copper and Plastic Pipes, Water Res., 2004, 38, p 3769–3779

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. B. Minnoş, E. Ilhan-Sungur, A. Çotuk, and N. Doğruöz, Güngör, and N, Cansever, The Corrosion Behaviour of Galvanized Steel in Cooling Tower Water Containing a Biocide and a Corrosion Inhibitor, Biofouling, 2013, 29, p 223–235

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge Bihter Minnoş, Hatice Gümüşhan, Ahmet Öztürk, Ali Yaman, and N. Özlem Şanlı Yürüdü. This study was supported by the Turkey Prime Ministry State Planning Organization (Project No: 2005K120430) and Research Fund of Istanbul University (Project No: T-897/02062006).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Istanbul University, 34134, Vezneciler, Istanbul, Turkey

    Nihal Doğruöz Güngör, Ayşın Çotuk & Esra Ilhan-Sungur

  2. Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department, Faculty of Chemistry-Metallurgy, Yıldız Technical University, Esenler, 34210, Istanbul, Turkey

    Nurhan Cansever

Authors
  1. Nihal Doğruöz Güngör
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ayşın Çotuk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Esra Ilhan-Sungur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nurhan Cansever
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nihal Doğruöz Güngör.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Doğruöz Güngör, N., Çotuk, A., Ilhan-Sungur, E. et al. Effect of Mixed-Species Biofilm on Copper Surfaces in Cooling Water System. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 24, 848–858 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-014-1332-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-014-1332-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation