Abstract: Methods and compositions for dispersing a biofilm in an aqueous stream using fatty acids are disclosed. The fatty acids may have the formula: R1-R5—CH3 wherein R1 is an aryl or arylalkyl, —COR2, —COOR2, or —CONR3R4, —PO3(R2)3; R2 is H, an alkyl, an aryl or arylalkyl, or a halide; R3 and R4 may be the same or different and are H, a hydroxyl, an alkyl, an aryl or arylalkyl, a halide, or a sulfo (sulfonic acid group); R5 is an aliphatic chain having 2-30 carbon atoms and at least one double bond; and wherein when R1 is —COOH and R5 has eight carbon atoms and the FA has only one double bond, such double bond is not on the number 2 carbon.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for dispersing a biofilm in an aqueous stream using fatty acids are disclosed. The fatty acids may have the formula: R1-R5—CH3 wherein R1 is an aryl or arylalkyl, —COR2, —COOR2, or —CONR3R4, —PO3(R2)3; R2 is H, an alkyl, an aryl or arylalkyl, or a halide; R3 and R4 may be the same or different and are H, a hydroxyl, an alkyl, an aryl or arylalkyl, a halide, or a sulfo (sulfonic acid group); R5 is an aliphatic chain having 2-30 carbon atoms and at least one double bond; and wherein when R1 is —COOH and R5 has eight carbon atoms and the FA has only one double bond, such double bond is not on the number 2 carbon.

Abstract: A method of detecting changes in a surface state and of monitoring said surface state, in particular for a body whose surface is at a given temperature and is in contact with a flowing liquid at a given temperature which may optionally be different from the temperature of said surface, wherein a reference metal body is placed in said liquid, said body having a surface at a temperature which is adjustable independently of the temperature of said liquid, and said body acting as an electrode which is optionally raised to an adjustable potential, and the surface state of said body is detected by measuring the intensity of light radiation reflected from at least one mirror-forming portion of the surface of the reference body.