Abstract: A biofiltration system for filtering wastewater includes a tower containing a packed bed on which biofilm is able to form and an air inlet below the packed bed and an air outlet above the packed bed. A water feed above the packed bed disperses wastewater over the packed bed. The biofilm serves as a biological contact reactor removing organic and/or inorganic contaminants from the water. Following filtration of the water through the packed bed, filtered water and solid waste sloughed off from the packed bed collects in a sump below the packed bed. Water flows from a water outlet in the sump to a centrifugal separator that separates solid material from water drawn from the sump to expel a waste stream and a filtered water stream.

Abstract: A polymer compound (I) with bacteria-adhesion inhibition properties against bacteria such as P. aeruginosa Xen 5, E. coli Xen 14, S. typhimurium Xen 26, S. aureus Xen 36 and K. pneumoniae Xen 39 is described. The group R is provided by a substituted furanone linked by an alkyl chain or, more preferably a hydrophilic moiety such as oligo(ethylene oxide) ((CH2—CH2—O)i) to the polymer backbone. The group R may be the same or different along the polymer backbone. The invention also provides nanofibers and coatings which include a polymer compound as defined above.

Abstract: A polymer compound (I) with bacteria-adhesion inhibition properties against bacteria such as P. aeruginosa Xen 5, E. coli Xen 14, S. typhimurium Xen 26, S. aureus Xen 36 and K. pneumoniae Xen 39 is described. The group R is provided by a substituted furanone linked by an alkyl chain or, more preferably a hydrophilic moiety such as oligo(ethylene oxide) ((CH2—CH2—O)i) to the polymer backbone. The group R may be the same or different along the polymer backbone. The invention also provides nanofibres and coatings which include a polymer compound as defined above.

Abstract: A water filter assembly and water filter element are provided. The water filter element has water permeable barriers through which water is to be passed in use in order to purify same. The permeable barrier comprises a nanofibre layer defining nanopores which may be carried by a permeable support layer. The water filter element, in one form, includes an enclosure housing at least one of granular activated carbon, at least one appropriate ion exchange resin and at least one appropriate adsorbent. The nanofibers preferably have antimicrobial properties inherent thereto or provided by a biocidal agent trapped within the nanofibres or a layer thereof, or both. The water filter assembly has a perforated holder that operatively snugly receives the water filter element in a flow path through the water filter assembly. Preferably, the perforated holder has a screw threaded socket for attaching it to a container.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus (10) for monitoring biofilm formation on a surface (12). The apparatus (10) comprises a disk-shaped member (14) which provides said surface (12); and a sensor (16) for measuring biofilm formation on a measuring zone (18) of the surface (12). A plurality of bodies (29) are mounted on the surface (12) of the disk-shaped member (14) so that biofilm formation on different materials can be observed. The apparatus (10) includes a housing (22) wherein the member (14) is located. A body of liquid (24), such as water, is disposed inside the housing (22) and fills the housing (22) only partly. The member (14) is continuously moved into and out of the liquid (24) by being rotated about its central axis (30).