EP 1110-1-27
27 Jan 00
Appendix B
Explanations of Abbreviations and Terms
(a) Attachment -- the act of a bacteria or a biocolloid becoming fixed to a surface. Growth may then
follow leading to the formation of biofilms.
(b) BART -- a patented biological activity reaction test biodetection system which can be customized to
determine the aggressivity and composition of selected consortia of microorganisms.
(c) BCHT -- a patented blended chemical heat treatment system which can be applied to rehabilitate
biofouled wells and systems by a three-step technology.
(d) Biocides -- specific chemicals or compounds which have a deleterious impact on the targeted
organism.
(e) Biodegradation -- the act of degrading a molecule to one or more smaller molecules by biochemical
mechanisms (e.g., enzyme action).
(f) Biofilm -- a slime-like matrix composed of extracellular polymer substances (EPS) within which a
consortium of microorganisms flourish. These biofilms may either grow over surfaces, or occupy voids in
a porous medium.
engineered or natural process or system. Deleterious effects range from clogging, corrosion, and plugging
to gas production and bioaccumulation.
(1) Bioaccumulation -- any buildup of biomass, extracellular products and associated mineral and
particulate matter associated with biofilm formation and development.
(2) Biocorrosion -- biologically induced or accelerated corrosion (equivalent term: microbially
induced corrosion, MIC)
(h) Biomass -- the mass of a living entity which may be expressed as either the wet or dry weight.
Biomass may furthermore be given as the total mass including all associated mass, or as the viable mass
which would include just the viable cells. In biofilms, the total mass would relate to the total weight of the
"slime" as such (which has potential application in planning maintenance treatment) while the viable mass
would include just the mass directly associated with the living cells.
(i) Clogging -- the generation of a mass which interferes with physical functioning (e.g., hydraulic
conductivity) of a porous medium (e.g., gravel pack, sand filter) or transmitting capacity of a device or
pipe. Clogging can be formed through the maturation of biofilms fouling the media and may become
complex in structure.
(j) Consortium (plural: consortia) (synonym: community) -- communities or associations, often
interdependent, of microorganisms.
(k) Corrosion -- the process of erosive deterioration in the physical form and engineered characteristics of
a structure. These processes frequently involve electrolytic and/or corrosive chemical (e.g., acids) effects
which are sometimes mediated by microbial activities (biocorrosion or microbially induced corrosion). It
has been observed that corrosive pitting can form directly under biofilms.
B-1