Removal of microbiological pollutants and biofilms from water in water recycling systems of different purpose

Summary

The choice of the technology of inactivation of uncontrolled microbiological activity in the process of water and wastewater treatment has been of primary importance. Microbiological pollutants rank first in the assessment of the risk level for the human health as well as of the risk of economic losses for all the industrial sites having recycled water cooling systems. Water chlorination is the most commonly used method of microorganism control. Drinking water chlorination has been used since 1870-ies and up to the present time; however either this method or any other (boiling, ozonation, ultraviolet irradiation, ultrasound disinfection etc.) do not provide for removing biofilms. The technologies with the use of catalytic units for recycling water treatment are described that provide not only for removing microorganisms from water systems but above all for removing and preventing from further biofilm formation as microorganism life environment. The backbone of the technologies has been the formation on the surface of nonconsumable metal catalyzer of active biotenzides (biological surface-active substances of natural origin that are capable of removing biological pollutants from closed-loop water recycling systems including biofilms on the equipment, pipe surfaces etc. As an illustration of introducing the technologies of catalytic water treatment in water systems the use of units for water purification in the hot water supply systems of Kirovsk, Murmansk Area, with the purpose of eliminating strong offensive odor (cause by the pollution of the hot water supply systems with sulfate reducing bacteria and, correspondingly, by the emission of hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans) is described. The use of catalytic water treatment units provided for eliminating odor in the hot water supply system of Kirovsk to the standards of SanPiN 2.1.4.2652-10.

Key words

catalyst , biofilm , water recycling systems , legionellosis , sulfate reducing bacteria , catalytic water treatment unit