Novel coatings for prevention of biofilm formation in drinking water distribution systems
Rodrigo Nogueira Nobre (PhD Candidate), Wiebe de Vos (promotor), Henny van der Mei (promotor), Cristina Gagliano (Wetsus supervisor) |
Duration: 2022 – 2026 |
Funding: EMPOWER - European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 10103432 |
Introduction
Biofouling in drinking water distribution systems can alter water quality and safety as well as damage these systems. This effect on water quality and safety is hard to monitor and its only found to be a problem when it is already too late. Current solutions require disassembly of the pipe system and cleaning of the interior of pipes when water quality decreases. This results in increased maintenance costs and health risks for consumers.
Key words
Biofilm, Anti-fouling, Nanogels, Coating, Drinking water
Technological challenges
Prevention of biofilm formation is very hard to achieve and current strategies to remove them involve disassembly of pipes and/or washing with large quantities of disinfectants. To solve this problem, an anti-adhesive/anti-fouling coating can help remove biofilms/prevent biofilms formation on pipe systems.
Research goals
The goal of this project is to develop a new way to prevent and/or help remove biofilms from drinking water distribution systems involving coating these systems using a polymeric nanogel.
