Physical Removal of Biofilm

Abstract

Biofilms form plaque on teeth and contribute to slime and scale buildup that result in clogged pipes and drains. Clogged pipes display smaller diameters and exhibit a reduced ability for heat exchange and liquid flow. A company with such a problem could experience increases in energy consumption and operational costs. Also if not corrected on time, it may need to shut down for an extended period in order to replace the defective pipes. Therefore it is essential to clean pipes, drains, and water mains frequently, in order to protect them from scale and biofilm buildup. Physical cleaning methods exist for effectively removing biofilms. Some are presented and described in this chapter. They include flushing, swabbing, air scouring, pigging, and ultrasonic scaling (used to remove plaque on teeth).