Electrochemical detection of biofilms

[Excerpt] Biofilms are the result of adhesion and growth of microorganisms, creating microenvironments - a polymeric matrix - where several microbial reactions take place [1]. Usually, biofilms are divided in two groups: the ones that are beneficial, as in wastewater treatment or production of specific products, and the detrimental biofilms such as the ones that appear in drinking water pipes and heat exchangers. In any case it is very important to detect the biofilm as soon as possible, to increase its growth or to avoid the risks associated with its presence. The ideal detector must allow the easy detection of biofilms in the early stages of formation and on line. Electrochemical techniques are well known for their role in analytical chemistry, allowing the determination and quantification of a large number of organic, inorganic and biological compounds. These techniques have largely proved to provide an efficient means for detection in situ and on line of a variety of compounds [2]. [...