Information
Introduction
The original AquaFinesse products were developed for the cleaning and sanitation of hot tubs and swimming pools also to mitigate the negative effects on the skin by 'hard' oxidizers like sodium hypochlorite or peroxides.
By cleaning we refer to the mitigation and prevention of future re growth of the microbiological slime layers or so called biofilm from walls and tubing of equipment. With consistent, outstanding results achieved.
Chlorine, ozone or other oxidizers can easily be used in combination with AquaFinesse™ to kill bacteria in the planktonic phase. AquaFinesse™ loosens the biofilm from any substrate and subsequently encapsulates the debris. The coagulated debris is then filtered out via the filter system. Tests have shown no toxic effect for macro fauna.
Development
The technology behind AquaFinesse soon lead to new developments in industry and medical applications. It became apparent that due to the removal of xPS by AquaFinesse, biocides work far move effectively, even when considerably reduced in volume.
Biofilm formation
Surfaces that come into contact with water will be directly conditioned by adsorption of the organic materials and bacteria. Mobile waterborne bacteria migrate to surfaces and attach by excretion of extra cellular substances (xPS) consisting mainly of polysaccharides, forming gel-like matrices in which the bacteria are enclosed. Eventually areas will join together and form a contiguous biofilm.
Hot tubs and swimming pools use tap water but the body fluids and skin particles provide enough organic and inorganic nutrition substances as well as micro-organisms from both outside water phase as from the persons. So a continuous input flow consists of nutrition and new germs.
Many types of micro-organisms can prosper in the range of environmental conditions (temperature, levels of aeration, and pH) provided by most cooling water systems. Micro-organisms can sense conditions that are amenable to their life processes and are motile optimising their physiological needs in the biofilm.
Although initially thought to be more or less uniform, recent imaging with confocal microscopy has shown that a biofilm is full of channels and voids where water, ions, suspended solids, and metabolites can accumulate. The xPS acts as a trap for nutrients dissolved in the water. The net effect is that conditions inside the biofilm can be significantly different than in the bulk water.
By buffering their bacterial occupants from the bulk water, biofilms provide shelter and protection for micro-organisms against varying physical environmental circumstances and biocides. Chlorine and peroxides are less active in removing biofilms as always assumed. The full-grown biofilm can also act as a diffusive barrier, by which an oxygen gradient is developed. The oxygen is used on the surface of the biofilm, leading to an anaerobic environment on the conditioned surface. As these various areas (better: micro-environments or micro climatic areas) become established, there is an increased development of specific micro-organisms that cause and promote corrosion of the metallic surfaces.
Tests reveal that AquaFinesse products, although human and environmentally friendly work effectively in different applications by destroying the 'structure' and 'viability' of the biofilm. Therefore the product is a valuable additive to biocides like Na-hypochlorite for industrial and other applications. The breaking down of the biofilm will have a significant effect ensuring a cleaner environment and fewer risks to humans. Therefore AquaFinesse products are recommended as an essential part of maintenance.