Biofilm monitoring on carbon and different stainless steel types was performed using a mobile mini-plant as bypass to an industrial water system in a 10 month experiment. Biofilms were analyzed for cell counts of MIC-relevant bacteria from the sulfur-/iron-/manganese-/nitrogen-cycle, microbial activity, and the content of corrosive elements (chloride, sulfur,
manganese). Biofilms on carbon steel exhibited a higher microbial diversity, higher cell counts, and a higher microbial activity as on stainless steels. Chemoorganotrophic bacteria were the dominant group in the biofilm-biocoenosis. Although MIC-relevant bacteria like nitric and sulfuric acid producing bacteria, SRB, and manganese(II)ion oxidizing bacteria colonized the materials, steel samples were not affected by biocorrosion. The corrosion rates of all stainless steel types were below 0.01 mm/year. Keywords: biofilm, MIC, monotoring, carbon steel,
stainless steel, SRB