Abstract
SHS investigation development is considered from the geographical and historical viewpoint. 3 stages are described. Within Stage 1 the work was carried out in the Department of the Institute of Chemical Physics in Chernogolovka where the scientific discovery had been made. At Stage 2 the interest to SHS arose in different cities and towns of the former USSR. Within Stage 3 SHS entered the international scene. Now SHS processes and products are being studied in more than 50 countries.
Abstract
Biofilm is inhomogeneous, thin film-like matter formed on materials’ surfaces. It is actually a hydrogel and composed of water (about 80% depending on the formation stages), external polysaccharides (EPS) and bacteria themselves. When materials are immersed into marine environments, biofilms form by bacterial activity. However, the process contains many steps. The formation and growth capability of biofilms are determined by the combination of environmental factors (bacteria, biota, temperatures, etc.) and materials. In this chapter, the authors describe the general biofilm formation process and discuss how various materials affect biofilm formation and growth.
Keywords:
Biofilms, EPS, Bacteria, Metals, Ceramics, Polymers, Hydrophilicity, Hydrophobicity, Water repellency, Van der Waals forces, Electric double layer, Zeta potential.
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Authors:Bentham Science Books