Treatment FAQ

what is biocide water treatment

by Dr. Cornell Greenfelder II Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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What are biocides used for? Biocides

Biocide

A biocide is defined in the European legislation as a chemical substance or microorganism intended to destroy, deter, render harmless, or exert a controlling effect on any harmful organism by chemical or biological means.

are used to decontaminate the water in industrial water treatment processes, It is mainly used in Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP) for decontaminating the industrial effluent. Biocides are also used as antiseptics to treat infections in mucous membranes and damaged skin.

A biocide is a chemical treatment that is formulated to effectively control microbial growth. Problems caused by un-controlled microbial growth can range from health hazards, the breakdown of chemicals, the development of biofilms , heat transfer losses, restriction of flow and under deposit corrosion.

Full Answer

What is liquid biocide used for?

A liquid biocide often described as a stabilised blend of Hypochlorite and bromide salts. Controls bacteria and other organisms in recirculating cooling water, pasteurisers, air washers and other heat transfer systems. Fast acting non-foaming, non-tainting biocide.

Why is biocidal treatment so important?

It is therefore critical that the correct biocidal treatment regime is implemented and regular checks are carried out to ensure that microbial population in a wide range of systems including drinking water, down water services, process waters, closed circuits, recreational waters and open cooling systems are kept under control.

What is the biocides legislation?

The biocides legislation puts emphasis on making the Regulation compatible with the World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and requirements and with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), as well as with the OECD programme on testing methods.

What is a broad spectrum biocide?

A broad-spectrum biocide based upon a twin chain quaternary ammonium compound, with activity against both gram positive and gram-negative organisms. WTP C50 is a broad spectrum biocide against a wide range of micro-organisms including, algae, fungi, bacteria and yeast infestations in water systems.

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What is the purpose of biocide?

Biocidal products are used to protect people and animals, preserve goods, stop pests like insects or rodents and control viruses, bacteria and fungi through a chemical or biological action. Common examples are disinfectants, wood preservatives and insect repellents.

What is biocide and example?

Biocides are used to suppress harmful organisms that can cause damage to natural or manufactured materials. These harmful organisms include pests and germs. Examples of biocidal products are insect repellents, disinfectants and industrial chemicals like anti-fouling paints for ships and material preservatives.

Is biocide harmful to humans?

Biocides pose a particular risk to pregnant women, unborn life, small children, or people with serious chronic illness. Health hazards caused by disinfectants or other dangerous biocides include effects on skin, eyes, respiratory system, nervous system, and other organs.

What are three types of biocides?

and an overview of currently used biocides Among the methods currently used, the following can be distinguished: • physical and mechanical methods, • chemical methods.

What chemicals are in biocide?

Types of biocide Oxidising biocides include; chlorine, chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide, bromine and ozone. Non-oxidising biocides include: quaternary ammonium compounds, Bronopol, THPS, DBNPA and Gluteraldehyde.

Is chlorine a biocide?

Chlorine, dosed in the form of sodium hypochlorite, is probably the best broad-spectrum biocide and, at residual levels of 0.5 mg/l, chlorine is effective against most bacteria, including Legionella.

Is biocide a bleach?

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a biocide like chlorine bleach is a substance that should be used to destroy living organisms, but when it comes to killing mold with bleach for bathroom mold removal, the use of a biocide is not recommended for routine practice during mold cleanup ...

What is a biocide product?

A biocidal product is a product with an active substance that is intended to destroy, deter, render harmless, prevent the action of, or otherwise exert a controlling effect on harmful or undesired organisms.

Are biocides pesticides?

Biocidal products are all pesticides that are not plant protection products. The biocidal products that act in a chemically or biologically way fall in the scope of the biocidal legislation. It can for example be disinfectants, a mosquito repellent, wood preservatives, rodenticides or antifouling paint for boats.

Is fungicide a biocide?

Biocides include antiseptics and pesticides (e.g., disinfectants, preservatives, herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides).

Is alcohol a biocide?

Ethanol is one example and is included in the biocidal product disinfectant. There are 22 biocidal product types determined by the specific use of the product (for example, Product Type 14 – biocidal rodenticides). Read more about product types.

Is sodium hypochlorite a biocide?

Usually hypochlorite is applied as sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and calcium hypochlorite (Ca(OCl)2). These compounds can be applied as biocides. They function in very much the same way as chlorine, although they are a bit less effective. Ozone is naturally instable.

How does water treatment work?

Water treatment involves many variables, one of which is the control of microorganisms in suspension and on surfaces within the system. One of the most overlooked aspects of water treatment biocides is their antimicrobial mechanism. Often the primary focus is on the performance of the biocide, not how does it work. However, information on the mechanisms by which biocides affect microorganisms can help develop and refine treatment programs to maximize efficiency and minimize cost. In addition, a greater understanding of how biocides function may prevent the development of antimicrobial resistance and tolerancel?2.

How do biocides affect the cell?

The antimicrobial action of biocides is dependent on the inactivation of a critical number of sites within the cell. The critical number is determined by the function of that site within the cell. For example, inactivation of one or several key enzymes that enable the microorganisms to generate energy (respiration) would cause more overall damage to the microorganisms than inactivation of an equal number of cell wall proteins that possess a simple structural function or enable the transport of nutrients into the cell. Although the cell would suffer from inactivation of the cell wall proteins, other nutrients could be utilized by the cell to remain alive. In contrast, the cellular machinery that generates energy for the microorganisms is vital to the survival of the cell.

Do biocides affect all microorganisms?

Unfortunately, this means that non-target organisms (eg. humans or fish) may also be affected, Within the different types of target micro organisms (ie. bacteria, fungi, algae and protozoans), most biocides exhibit higher activity against one type of microorganisms, but affect all types.

What is the purpose of biocides?

This can be accomplished by addition of biocides; chemical compounds that are toxic to the present microrganisms. Biocides are usually slug fed to a system to bring about rapid effective population reductions from which the microrganisms cannot easily recover.

Is oxidizing agent a biocide?

In many cases oxidising agents are not effective biocides. Non-oxidising agents are than applied.

Is ozone a biocide?

Ozone. Ozone is naturally instable. It can be used as a powerful oxidising agent, when it is generated in a reactor. As a biocide it acts in much the same way as chlorine; it disturbs the formation of ATP, so that the cell respiration of microrganisms will be made difficult.

What are biocides used for?

Biocides are used to decontaminate the water in industrial water treatment processes, It is mainly used in Effluent Treatment Plants ( ETP ) for decontaminating the industrial effluent. Biocides are also used as antiseptics to treat infections in mucous membranes and damaged skin.

Is biocide a disinfectant?

Yes Biocide is widely used as disinfectant in water treatment & food industry . They treat production plants, processing areas and food containers to control the microbial growth in food and drinks.

What is the purpose of adding biocide to water?

Biocides can be added to other materials (typically liquids) to protect them against biological infestation and growth. For example, certain types of quaternary ammonium compounds ( quats) are added to pool water or industrial water systems to act as an algicide, protecting the water from infestation and growth of algae. It is often impractical to store and use poisonous chlorine gas for water treatment, so alternative methods of adding chlorine are used. These include hypochlorite solutions, which gradually release chlorine into the water, and compounds like sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione (dihydrate or anhydrous), sometimes referred to as "dichlor", and trichloro-s-triazinetrione, sometimes referred to as "trichlor". These compounds are stable while solids and may be used in powdered, granular, or tablet form. When added in small amounts to pool water or industrial water systems, the chlorine atoms hydrolyze from the rest of the molecule forming hypochlorous acid (HOCl) which acts as a general biocide killing germs, micro-organisms, algae, and so on. Halogenated hydantoin compounds are also used as biocides.

What is a biocide?

A biocide is defined in the European legislation as a chemical substance or microorganism intended to destroy, deter, render harmless, or exert a controlling effect on any harmful organism. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses a slightly different definition for biocides as "a diverse group of poisonous substances including ...

What is a biocidal product?

bacteria). Biocidal products contain one or more biocidal active substances and may contain other non-active co-formulants that ensure the effectiveness as well as the desired pH, viscosity, colour, odour, etc. of the final product. Biocidal products are available on the market for use by professional and/or non-professional consumers.

Why are biocidal products dangerous?

Hazards and environmental risks. Because biocides are intended to kill living organisms, many biocidal products pose significant risk to human health and welfare. Great care is required when handling biocides and appropriate protective clothing and equipment should be used.

How can biocides be exposed to the environment?

The environment can be exposed directly due to the outdoor use of biocides or as the result of indoor use followed by release to the sewage system after e.g. wet cleaning of a room in which a biocide is used. Upon this release a biocidal substance can pass a sewage treatment plant (STP) and, based on its physical chemical properties, partition to sewage sludge, which in turn can be used for soil amendments thereby releasing the substance into the soil compartment. Alternatively, the substance can remain in the water phase in the STP and subsequently end up in the water compartment such as surface water etc. Risk assessment for the environment focuses on protecting the environmental compartments (air, water and soil) by performing hazard assessments on key species, which represent the food chain within the specific compartment. Of special concern is a well functioning STP, which is elemental in many removal processes. The large variety in biocidal applications leads to complicated exposure scenarios that need to reflect the intended use and possible degradation pathways, in order to perform an accurate risk assessment for the environment. Further areas of concern are endocrine disruption, PBT-properties, secondary poisoning, and mixture toxicity.

Why are biocides toxic?

Due to their intrinsic properties and patterns of use, biocides, such as rodenticides or insecticides, can cause adverse effects in humans, animals and the environment and should therefore be used with the utmost care. For example, the anticoagulants used for rodent control have caused toxicity in non-target species, such as predatory birds, due to their long half-life after ingestion by target species (i.e. rats and mice) and high toxicity to non-target species. Pyrethroids used as insecticides have been shown to cause unwanted effects in the environment, due to their unspecific toxic action, also causing toxic effects in non-target aquatic organisms.

What is the name of the compound that kills germs, microorganisms, algae, and algae?

When added in small amounts to pool water or industrial water systems, the chlorine atoms hydrolyze from the rest of the molecule forming hypochlorous acid (HOCl) which acts as a general biocide killing germs, micro-organisms, algae, and so on. Halogenated hydantoin compounds are also used as biocides.

What is bromgard cooling water?

The Bromgard product range represents the most up to date cooling water treatment products that bring together the latest scale, corrosion and fouling control technology with the biocidal power of bromine for applications in the widest possible range of cooling water systems.

How to ensure that water systems are safe and well maintained?

To ensure that such systems are safe, well maintained and operate at optimum efficiency it is essential that the correct water conditions are maintained at all times. This can be achieved using carefully selected biocides.

Does bromine help with microbiology?

The superior effectiveness of bromine in controlling microbiological contamination in cooling water systems is well known, particularly in alkaline water conditions where the effectiveness of chlorine-based products diminishes rapidly.

What is a liquid biocide?

A liquid biocide often described as a stabilised blend of Hypochlorite and bromide salts. Controls bacteria and other organisms in recirculating cooling water, pasteurisers, air washers and other heat transfer systems. 25 & 200kg. Request price.

How do oxidizing biocides attack microorganisms?

Oxidising biocides attack microorganisms by oxidising (an electron transfer reaction) the cell structure, disrupting nutrients from passing across the cell wall. Non-oxidising biocides for industrial use are effective in controlling: Oxidising biocides for industrial use are effective in controlling microbiological activity in: ...

What is the number to call for oxidising biocides?

For more info call us on 01495 792790.

What is chlorine dioxide used for?

For use in cooling systems, evaporative condensers, process, air scrubbers, drinking water and as a sterilising agent such as in ‘fogging’ applications for a simple method of introducing high purity Chlorine Dioxide.

What is chlorination solution used for?

Chlorination solution used to disinfect water systems such as evaporative cooling towers, hot tubs and swimming pools. Slow dissolving, low dusting, tabletised compound for the bromination of cooling water systems, swimming pools and water features.

When did the Biocidal Product Regulation come into effect?

The Biocidal Product Regulation (Article 95) came into effect on the 1st September 2015. Manufacturers or importers who supply biocidal products or active substances to the British or EU market whether in return for payment or not must have registered their product by this date.

What is a 200g chlorine tablet?

Slow dissolving 200g chlorine tablets for sanitizing pool water and process water systems. Designed for the safe and simple application of chlorine sanitiser.

What chemicals are used in water treatment?

The broad categories of these chemicals include: Oxygen scavengers. Flocculants. Neutralising agents. pH conditioners. Scale inhibitors. Corrosion inhibitors. Coagulants.

What are neutralizing agents in water treatment?

Neutralising agents in water treatment neutralise acids and basics. Their dosage will depend on the pH of the water. Some neutralising agents increase pH levels, and some will cause them to decline. Neutralising agents include solutions of sodium hydroxide and calcium carbonate, and diluted sulphuric acid and hydrochloric acid.

What are coagulants in water?

Coagulants. Coagulants can remove suspended solids in water. They are made up of positively-charged molecules, and may be organic, inorganic or a combination of both. Chemicals commonly used as coagulants in drinking water treatment include: Aluminium sulphate. Polyaluminium chloride. Ferric sulphate.

What is the best way to reduce pH in water?

pH Conditioners. pH conditioners help adjust pH water levels. This can help to reduce corrosion in pipes and prevent any lead dissolving into water supplies. You can reduce or increase pH levels using basics or acids.

Is hydrogen peroxide a biocide?

Now, there is a new, revolutionary process for stabilising hydrogen peroxide without silver or other heavy metals. The result is Oxyl-Pro, a versatile, stabilised peroxide with multiple applications, including water treatment. Oxyl-Pro is an algaecide, biocide and oxidant.

Is water treatment harmful?

There are polluting risks from using chemicals in water treatment, and the development of purification techniques has meant a growth in the number of chemicals applied for these purposes.

Can you use chemicals for water treatment?

You can use a broad variety of chemicals for different water treatments.

What is biocide treatment?

Biocide is a type of treatment that can reduce microorganism presence in cooling water. ATP testing can be used to indicate whether a biocide treatment is capable of diminishing bioload. If the testing indicates little success, the treatment will need to be altered or intensified.

How does influent toxicity affect wastewater treatment?

In wastewater treatment plants, microorganisms can be killed by influent toxicity from wastewater streams. Not only can toxic materials kill active biomass, but they can also impact the effectiveness of wastewater treatment. ATP can be used to quantify influent toxicity in a testing process known as biological stress index. In this test, the ratio of dissolved to total APT is measured. Dead or dying biomass is linked to dissolved ATP. Therefore, if the biological stress index increases, it's a sign that toxicity has increased.

How is ATP used in water treatment?

ATP can be used in a number of water treatment applications, including drinking water systems , industrial water plants, wastewater treatment, and seawater desalination plants.

How is biomass quantified using ATP?

Using ATP to measure biomass in water is a rapid routine procedure that measures the concentration of cellular-ATP. ATP can be found in all living cells, including algae, protozoa, bacteria, and fungi.

What is ATP used for in seawater?

To continually monitor sea water and give an indication of whether pretreatment applications are working, ATP can be used. Seawater desalination plants can work to proactively treat membrane biofouling with the data provided by ATP testing, rather than simply reacting to the problem.

Can wastewater treatment plants track toxicity?

Wastewater treatment plants that treat more than one influent stream can especially benefit from biological stress index. These plants can track toxicity to a single stream and take corrective measures to prevent this toxic ity. Bioreactor toxicity can also be tracked with biological stress index. With routine ATP monitoring, operators will be alerted to upsets caused by toxicity before they can even be seen in water. Because of this, operators can proactively deal with toxicity issues, rather than waiting until the problem is more serious.

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