NACE Bromine Chemistry Review Paper
25 YEARS OF BROMINE CHEMISTRY IN INDUSTRIAL WATER SYSTEMS: A REVIEW Christopher J. Nalepa Albemarle Corporation P.O. Box 14799 Baton Rouge, LA 70898 ABSTRACT Bromine chemistry is used to great advantage in nature for fouling control by a number of sessile marine organisms such as sponges, seaweeds, and bryozoans. Such organisms produce small quantities of brominated organic compounds that effectively help keep their surfaces clean of problem bacteria, fungi, and algae. For over two decades, bromine chemistry has been used to similar advantage in the treatment of industrial water systems. The past several years in particular has seen the development of several diverse bromine product forms – one-drum stabilized bromine liquids, all-bromine hydantoin solids, and pumpable gels. The purpose of this paper is to review the development of bromine chemistry in industrial water treatment, discuss characteristics of the new product forms, and speculate on future developments. Keywords: Oxidizing biocide, bleach, bromine, bromine chemistry, sodium hypobromite, activated sodium bromide, Bromochlorodimethylhydantoin, Bromochloromethyethylhydantoin, Dibromodi- methylhydantoin,, BCDMH, BCMEH, DBDMH, stabilized bromine chloride, stabilized hypobromite INTRODUCTION Sessile marine organisms generate metabolites to ward off predators and deter attachment of potential micro- and macrofoulants. Sponges, algae, and bryozoans for example, produce a rich variety of bromine-containing compounds that exhibit antifoulant properties (Fig. 1).1,2,3 Scientists are actively studying these organisms to understand how they maintain surfaces that are relatively clean and slime- free.4 Brominated furanones isolated from the red algae Delisea pulchra, for example, have been found to interfere with the chemical signals (acylated homoserine lactones) that bacteria use to communicate with one another to produce biofilms.5,6 This work may eventually lead to more effective control of microorganisms in a number of industries such as industrial water treatment, oil and gas production, health care, etc.
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