Patent ID: 6699684
Filing Date: 2004-03-02
Classification: B01D,C12Q,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of monitoring biofouling in a membrane separation system including a membrane capable of separating a feed stream into at least a first stream and a second stream comprising the steps of:providing a fluorogenic agent; wherein said fluorogenic agent must be capable of passing through the openings in the membranes of the membrane separation system; adding the fluorogenic agent to the feed stream; providing a fluorometer to detect the fluorescent signal of the fluorogenic agent in at least one of the feed stream, the first stream and the second stream; reacting the fluorogenic agent with at least one microorganism within the membrane separation system; forming a reacted fluorogenic agent; wherein said reacted fluorogenic agent must be capable of passing through the openings in the membranes of the membrane separation system; using the fluorometer to measure the fluorescent signal of at least one of the fluorogenic agent and the reacted fluorogenic agent in at least one of the first stream and the second stream and optionally the feed stream; and monitoring biofouling in the membrane separation system based on the change in the signal of the fluorogenic agent, or the reacted fluorogenic agent or a combination of both signals measured.