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US 2004/0018583 A1Published application
Method of monitoring biofouling in membrane separation systems
AssigneeNalco Company
InventorsBosco P. Ho, May W. Wu, E. H. Kelle Zeiher, Mita Chattoraj
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Abstract
Methods for monitoring and/or controlling biofouling in membrane separation systems are provided. The present invention utilizes measurable amounts of fluorogenic agent(s) added to a feed stream to monitor and/or control the level of microbial growth during membrane separation and, thus, the purification of such feed stream during membrane separation.
Claims19
A method of monitoring biofouling in a membrane separation system including a membrane capable of separating a feed stream into at least a first stream and a second stream comprising the steps of:
- providing a fluorogenic agent;
- adding the fluorogenic agent to the feed stream;
- providing a fluorometer to detect the fluorescent signal of the fluorogenic agent in at least one of the feed stream, the first stream and the second stream;
- reacting the fluorogenic agent with at least one microorganism within the membrane separation system;
- forming a reacted fluorogenic agent;
- using the fluorometer to measure the fluorescent signal of at least one of the fluorogenic agent and the reacted fluorogenic agent in at least one of the first stream and the second stream and optionally the feed stream;
- and
- monitoring biofouling in the membrane separation system based on the change in the signal of the fluorogenic agent, or the reacted fluorogenic agent or a combination of both signals measured.
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