| abstract |
Methods and compositions for dispersing a biofilm in an aqueous stream using fatty acids are disclosed. The fatty acids may have the formula: R 1 -R 5 —CH 3 wherein R 1 is an aryl or arylalkyl, —COR 2 , —COOR 2 , or —CONR 3 R 4 , —PO 3 (R 2 ) 3 ; R 2 is H, an alkyl, an aryl or arylalkyl, or a halide; R 3 and R 4 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); R 5 is an aliphatic chain having 2-30 carbon atoms and at least one double bond; and wherein when R 1 is —COOH and R 5 has eight carbon atoms and the FA has only one double bond, such double bond is not on the number 2 carbon. |