EVALUATION OF CHLORINE DIOXIDE (CLO2) FOR THE CONTROL OF BIOFILMS

A continuous culture chemostat model was used to simulate a flowing wa ter pipe system such as those found in buildings. A primary vessel was set up to grow an inoculum that would represent a water storage tank feeding secondary and tertiary vessels downstream that simulated the w ater system. Filter-sterilised tap water was used as the growth medium in the continuous culture vessels with no exogenous carbon sources. I n addition, the microbial culture consisted of a mixed consortium obta ined from a potable water system. Secondary and tertiary vessels enabl ed the biofilms to be formed before being challenged with appropriate biocides. Even when testing the efficacy of the different biocides. th e vessels were still being challenged with the microbial consortium wh ich was constantly flowing from the primary reservoir vessel. This con figuration ensured the reproducibility of the model when testing to de struction in the secondary vessels. The flexibility of the system enab led chlorine dioxide to be tested. (C) 1997 IAWQ. Published by Elsevie r Science Ltd.