Influence of copper-alloying of austenitic stainless steel on multi-species biofilm development.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the bactericidal influence of copper-alloying of stainless steel on microbial colonization.


RESULTS
Inhibition of bacterial adherence was investigated by monitoring (192 h) the development of a multi-species biofilm on Cu-alloyed (3.72 wt%) stainless steel in a natural surface water. During the first 120 h of exposure, lower numbers of viable bacteria in the water in contact with copper-containing steel relative to ordinary stainless steel were observed. Moreover, during the first 48 h of exposure, lower colony counts were found in the biofilm adhering to the Cu-alloyed steel. No lower colony or viable counts were found throughout the remainder of the experimental period.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of Cu in the steel matrix impedes the adhesion of micro-organisms during an initial period (48 h), while this bactericidal effect disappears after longer incubation periods.


CONCLUSIONS
The application of Cu-alloyed stainless steels for bactericidal purposes should be restricted to regularly-cleaned surfaces.
Kielemoes
J
J
Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Faculty of Agricultural and Applied Biological Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium.
Verstraete
W
W
D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D013193:Stainless Steel / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000592:standards
D013193:Stainless Steel; D003300:Copper