Novel biocide technology targeting biofilm formation

Bacterial growth affects pulp and paper (P&P) and oil and gas (O&G) industries. It is easier to control growth of planktonic cells than it is to control biofilms. Killing bacterial cells in biofilms requires higher biocide concentrations than killing planktonic cells due to metabolic and permeability differences. Biocides are reactive molecules and a large proportion of added biocide is consumed by chemical interactions.

In P&P, uncontrolled growth of bacteria on the paper machine can cause significant build-up of biofilm on machine surfaces and lead to web breaks, extra cleaning and loss of production time. In O&G, growth of sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) and acid producing bacteria (APB) in biofilms could produce corrosion.

For P&P, we developed a new technology (patent pending), FennoCideTR-44, where polymer makes the actual biocide molecules more tolerant to conditions in white water circuits; so a higher proportion of added biocidal molecules will reach machine surfaces where biofilm may grow. Then, the full power of added biocidal molecules will be exploited and biofilm growth can be effectively terminated. Results from full scale trials in different paper grades will be presented. The shared outcome of all these trials was a clear performance advantage in biofilm control enabling improved cleanliness at the same cost. Preliminary promising results, targeting SRB and APB, planktonic and sessile cells, showed the potential use of FennoCideTR-44 for O&G.

FennoCideTR-44 is not currently registered as a biocide in the USA or Canada. It is only available in jurisdictions where the appropriate registrations have been received.