A petrochemical plant cooling system reduced its total biocide consumption by 35 percent during the winter time (25 percent all over the year) by using HydroBio Advance System to keep biofilm formation under control, according to a case study by manufacturer Kurita.

The refinery installed a HydroBio Advance System in the cooling water line to monitor biofilm activities in the system water. It used a “biofilm elevated” approach that serves as an early warning if biofilm starts to form, allowing the refinery to take corrective actions before biofilm formation in the real system takes place.

The case study says with the current treatment in place no biofilm formation occurred in the system. After stopping the biocide treatment completely, almost immediately the biofilm started to grow (see graph).