Biofouling assessment using an infrared monitor.

The paper details the design of an infrared monitor for detecting biofilm accumulation on surfaces in flowing systems. It is based on the principle that the amount of infrared radiation absorbed by a biofilm, is proportional to the amount of biofilm present. The test surface in the monitor has to be transparent in order to allow the passage of the radiation, so that the radiation absorbed is solely due to the presence of the biofilm.