Improving Closed Loop Water System Performance, Safety and Sustainability with Tablet Antimicrobial Technology

Christine McInnis, The Dow Chemical Company

A new solid tablet antimicrobial technology, KATHON^TM 7 TL solid biocide from The Dow Chemical Company, is increasing safety, performance and sustainability in small-to-medium-sized cooling water systems such as cooling towers in hospitals, nursing homes, universities and hotels. The tablet antimicrobial treatment is helping systems perform better, facilities save money on electric costs and decrease downtime required to service systems.

With increasing emphasis on reducing water use, cooling water systems have become more efficient and require smaller volumes of water for operation. The patented solution offers a safer alternative to powder or liquid antimicrobials.

While powder and liquid non-oxidizing biocides have been traditional treatment methods for biofilm, bacteria, algae and fungi, facility service managers are turning to a more convenient, less bulky tablet form, like the patented 200 gram solid KATHON™ 7 TL tablet from Dow. Recently approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the tablet is the only solid product made with the active ingredients chloromethyliosothizolone/methylisothiazolone (CMIT/MIT).

This innovative technology already has shown to be effective. APTech Group, Inc., a global manufacturer of blended solid concentrate water treatment products based in the United States, has experienced success with KATHON™ 7 TL Antimicrobial Tablets in treating a large university closed loop heating system in the United Kingdom (UK). First cleaned with filters to remove debris, the system is treated with the tablets to control bacteria, minimizing risk of Legionella growth and corrosion to extend infrastructure longevity.

APTech Group has also reported success in removing and treating Pseudomonas aeruginosa—a bacterium found in water and most man-made environments that can cause disease in humans—with the tablets in commercial buildings in the UK.

For more information about KATHON™ 7 TL antimicrobial tablets, visit www.solidbiocides.dow.com.

Christine McInnis is the global R&D water platform leader for Dow Microbial Control, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company.