title: Using nanovibrations to monitor biofouling.
abstract: The article proposes the use of the mechatronic surface sensor (MSS) to detect surface contamination. This methodology is based on the analysis of the vibration response of the monitored surface. In the present work a comparison between the responses of the MSS to different structural deposits build-up (Pseudomonas fluorescens biofilm--formed under turbulent and laminar flow and a silica deposit) were made. The results showed that the MSS response depends not only on the amount but also on the viscoelasticity of the attached deposit--different responses were obtained for the deposits according to their viscoelasticity. Another important conclusion is that the MSS response is not highly affected by solids that are not really attached to its surface.
authors.affiliation: LEPAE, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Joaquim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.forename: Luis F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Melo
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011551:Pseudomonas fluorescens / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology*; D013018:Sound Spectrography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014732:Vibration