Adhesion of façade coating colonisers, as mediated by physico-chemical properties

• Published in: Biofouling (Chur, Switzerland) Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 15 - 24
• Main Authors: Barberousse, Hélène, Brayner, Roberta, Do Rego, Ana Maria Botelho, Castaing, Jean-Christophe, Beurdeley-Saudou, Patricia, Colombet, Jean-François
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 01.01.2007
• Subjects: adhesion; Age; Algae; Biofilms - growth & development; building; Cell Adhesion; Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry, Physical; Chlorella; Chlorella - isolation & purification; Chlorella - physiology; Chlorophyta - isolation & purification; Chlorophyta - physiology; Construction Materials - microbiology; France; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Rheology; self-assembled monolayers; Static Electricity; Surface Properties; Thermodynamics
• ISSN: 0892-7014; 1029-2454
• DOI: 10.1080/08927010601093026

The adhesion of Klebsormidium flaccidum, Stichococcus bacillaris and Chlorella cf. mirabilis, three strains of green microalgae isolated from biofilms on façade coatings were investigated in a parallel plate flow chamber. The model surfaces tested were glass slides, and −CH 3 (mediated by octadecyltrichlorosilane [OTS] and hexamethyldisilazane [HMDZ] modification) and -NH 2 (aminopropyltriethoxysilane [APS] modification) terminated self-assembled monolayers. Algal physicochemical properties were evaluated by the microbial adhesion to solvents (MATS) assay and by contact angle measurements. The model surfaces were characterised by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis and by contact angle measurements. Predicted adhesion trends were then compared to in vitro measurements. The adhesion strength of the three algal strains followed the trend: APS > OTS > HMDZ > glass. The adhesion process thus seemed to be mediated by hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions, and was shown to be influenced by the algal culture age and the initial contact time.