title: Biofilm formation in water cooling systems.
abstract: Biofilm formation on stainless steel samples immersed in cooling water has been evaluated by exposing metal samples to cooling seawater for 30 days. Anaerobic bacteria were then at 1.6 × 10(6)/cm(2), with sulphate-reducing species predominating. Aerobic bacteria and fungi were 2600 and 140/cm(2), respectively. After 60 days, numbers of aerobic microorganisms remained constant whereas the count of anaerobic microorganisms had increased to 1.8×10(9)/cm(2). Scanning electron microscopy showed the presence of morphologically different microorganisms in deposits and as a mucilaginous net. No signs of corrosion were detected on the stainless steel surface.
authors.affiliation: , .
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Lutterbach
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: de França