Critical Evaluation of the Determination Methods for Transparent Exopolymer Particles, Agents of Membrane Fouling

Abstract

Since the development of the first method to quantify transparent exopolymer particles in 1993, a number of alternative methods have been developed to improve the original method. Some of these alternative methods deviate firmly from the original method. In many cases, different methods determine a different fraction of the material present in the same investigated sample. This makes comparison between results of studies very difficult or even impossible. Better categorizing of transparent exopolymer particles could be useful to keep a clear view on which fraction is measured and how this fraction relates to the ones measured in other studies.

KEY WORDS:

• transparent exopolymer particles
• Alcian blue
• membrane fouling
• biofouling