Results of several years laboratory experience with biocides in the presence of bacterial biofilms on metal surfaces are reported. Planktonic growth and biofilms of Pseudomonas sp.and Pseudoinonas jluorescens, were used to assess the biocidal efficacy of glutaraldehyde,
formaldehyde, ammonium didccyldimethyl chloride, an isothiazolinones mixture, ozone and sodium hypochloritc. All the biocidcs showed to bc effective to kill planktonic cells within the concentration ranges assayed in this paper. This effectivity was restricted for sessile bacterial population, when the biocidal efficacy was assessed on bacterial biofilms under the same experimental conditions and for the same contact times. An interpretation of the decrease of the biocidal efficacy on scssile bacteria is envisaged under the light of new conceptions on biofilm structure.
The electrochemical behavior of two difl’crcnt steels (carbon steel and AISI type 304 stainless steel) was also tested in the presence of each of the biocides used in this work by means of open circuit potential vs. time evaluation, potentiodynamic polarization assays and Tafcl polarization. The passive behavior of both steels was not significantly altered in any of the biocide solutions assayed. However, the passive or active behavior of the metallic substratum can influence either the biocidc penetration into the biofilm or the bacterial detachment after exposure to the biocide solution. Keywords: biocide, biofilm, sessilc bacteria, planktonic bacteria, EPS, carbon steel, stainless steel.