Process for remediating biofouling in water systems with virulent bacteriophage
AssigneePhage Biocontrol Research, LLC
InventorsElizabeth Summer, Neil S. Summer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Bacterial contamination of industrial water systems lead to biofouling by biofilms and corrosion from bacterial induced corrosion. This invention provides a method for control of fouling and contamination of industrial water systems caused by bacteria. Prevention or reduction of process interruptions and general contamination, fouling and corrosion is achieved by the destruction of targeted problematic bacteria with naturally occurring, non-engineered bacteriophage virulent for targeted bacteria. The invention also provides for in-situ confirmation of the proper identification of target bacteria and a mobile laboratory adapted to implement the method.
Claims18
A method for reducing bio-corrosion in an industrial water system comprising;
- identifying a target bacteria strain in a water system;
- locating and enriching a phage virulent for said bacteria strain, and
- subjecting said water system to an effective amount of said phage to effect a reduction of bio-corrosion of iron containing metal.
A process for the remediation of bacterial corrosion of iron containing metals in industrial water systems comprising:
- identifying target bacteria in a water system;
- culturing at least one dominate target bacteria strain;
- identifying virulent phage for the target bacteria strain(s);
- isolating and enriching phage samples for testing;
- in-situ testing of the identified virulent phage strains;
- preparing suitable quantity of identified phage to treat the target water system, and
- subjecting the target water source to an effective amount of the identified phage to effect a reduction of iron metal corroding bacteria strains.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.