Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Variation in sessile microflora during biofilm formation on AISI-304 stainless steel coupons

  • Published:
Journal of Industrial Microbiology

Abstract

Coupons of stainless steel type AISI-304 were exposed to the industrial cooling system of a petrochemical plant fed by seawater from the Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in order to study thein situ formation of biofilms. Bacteria, microalgae and fungi were detected on the coupons as soon as 48 h after exposure. Their respective numbers were determined at times 48, 96 and 192 h and over the following 8 weeks. Aerobic, anaerobic and sulfate-reducing bacteria were quantified according to the technique of the most probable number, and fungi by the pour plate technique. The number of microorganisms present in the forming biofilm varied over the experimental period, reaching maximal levels of 14×1011 cells cm−2, 30×1013 cells cm−2, 38×1011 cells cm−2 and 63×105 cells cm−2, respectively, for aerobic bacteria, anaerobic bacteria, sulfate-reducing bacteria and fungi, and the dynamics of this variation depended on the group of microorganisms.Bacillus sp,Escherichia coli, Serratia sp andPseudomonas putrefaciens were identified among the aerobic bacteria isolated. Additionally, microalgae and bacteria of the genusGallionella were also detected. Nonetheless, no evidence of corrosion was found on the stainless steel type AISI-304 coupons over the experimental period.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. American Public Health Association (APHA). 1972. Tentative methods of analysis for hydrogen sulphide content of the atmosphere. In: Methods of Air Sampling and Analysis. pp 426–432, APHA, Washington.

    Google Scholar 

  2. American Public Health Association (APHA). 1992. In: Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Waste Water. pp. 9.78–9.83, APHA, Washington.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Brankevich G, P Guiamet and HA Videla. 1987. Corrosion del acero inoxidable AISI-304 en agua de mar poluida. Anais 14º Senacor, Associação Brasileira de Corrosão, Abraco, Brasil.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Characklis WG and KC Marshall. 1990. Biofilms: a basis for an interdisciplinary approach. In: Biofilms (Characklis WG and KC Marshall, eds), pp 3–15. John Wiley & Sons, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Characklis WG, GA Mcfeters and KC Marshall. 1990. Physiological ecology in biofilms systems. In: Biofilms (Characklis WG and KC Marshall, eds), pp 341–394. John Wiley & Sons, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Cook PE and CC Gaylarde. 1988. Biofilms formation in aqueous metal working fluids. Intern Biodet 24: 265–270.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Coutinho CMLM, FCM Magalhães and TCA Jorge. 1993. Scanning electron microscope study of biofilm formation at different flow rates over metal surfaces using sulphate-reducing bacteria. Biofouling 7: 19–27.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Gaylarde CC. 1991. Biofilms. In: Biocorrosão, Biofilmes e Biocidas. Vol I. Fund Tropical de Pesquisa e Tecnologia ‘André Tosello’.

  9. Holt JG, NR Krieg, PHA Sneath, JT Stanley and ST Williams (eds). 1994. Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology. 9th edn. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Koch AL. 1981. Growth measurement. In: Manual of Methods for General Bacteriology (Gerhardt P, ed), pp 188–207, American Society for Microbiology, Washington.

    Google Scholar 

  11. National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE). 1976. The role of bacteria in the corrosion of oil field equipment. In: Technical Practices Committee No. 3. NACE, Houston, Texas.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Notermans S. 1994. The significance of biofouling to the food industry. Food Tech 7: 13–14.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Page S and CC Gaylarde. 1990. Biocide activity againstLegionella and Pseudomonas. Intern Biodet 26: 139–148.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Pope DH. 1991. Mechanisms of microbiologically influenced corrosion of carbon steels. In: Gas, Coal, Oil and Environmental Biotechnology III (Akin C and J Smith, eds), pp 499–509, Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Postgate JR. 1984. The Sulphate Reducing Bacteria. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Rosemberg JA. 1976. O potencial das algas. Possibilidades deScenedesmus quadricauda isolada no Rio de Janeiro. Thesis. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Videla HA. 1991. Interpretación biolectroquímica de la ruptura de la pasividade del acero sl carbono por bacterias sulfatoredutoras. Rev Iber Corros y Prot 22(1): 11–16.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Walsh D, J Seagoe and L. Williams. 1992. Microbiologically influenced corrosion of stainless steel weldments, attachment and film evolution. Corrosion, Paper No. 165, NACE, Texas.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Engenharia Bioquímica, Escola de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) Centro de Tecnologia, Bloco E, Ilha do Fundäo, 21941-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ

    F P de França

  2. Instituto de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), 21941-900, RJ, Brazil

    M T S Lutterbach

Authors
  1. F P de França
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M T S Lutterbach
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

de França, F.P., Lutterbach, M.T.S. Variation in sessile microflora during biofilm formation on AISI-304 stainless steel coupons. Journal of Industrial Microbiology 17, 6–10 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01570140

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01570140

Keywords

Search

Navigation