Abstract

We present experimental results to analyze copper release from biotic and abiotic pipe surfaces and its relation to flow parameters, from Reynolds Number (Re) 1027-11,618. For abiotic and biotic surfaces, increasing the flow velocity affected the time scale of the copper release but not necessarily the net amount of total copper incorporated into the bulk flow. For biotic conditions the total copper concentration in the bulk flow was an order of magnitude higher than for abiotic surfaces (3.65 mg/L vs. 0.32 mg/L). Similarly, higher flow velocities enhance the presence of larger size copper nanoparticles in the bulk flow. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.