Biofilms in the Engineering Sector

Civil Engineering

Biofilms in civil engineering offer both issues and solutions. In the built environment the colonisation of biofilms can lead to the corrosion of infrastructure. Regular disinfection is therefore required to control and limit this corrosion.   

However, biofilms play a key role in water treatment, and other emerging sustainable practices within civil engineering such as self-healing concrete and sustainable drainage.  

Mechanical Engineering

Biofilms in mechanical engineering are one of the main causes for corrosion and microbial contamination. Corrosion is most reported in the energy sector but affects infrastructure and machinery across many fields within engineering. This creates a demand and market for corrosion inhibitors. 

Microbial contamination can affect any machinery which uses media that contains microorganisms. This includes marine and terrestrial water used in cooling systems, milk in dairy bottling systems and marine fouling of ships.