Application of Sterikon bioindicators for the determination of bactericide concentrations

Abstract

Biofouling in industrial water systems is normally prevented by the use of bactericides. However, bactericide programmes often fail owing to the lack of suitable techniques for determining the in situ bactericide concentration and this usually results in either inadequate or excessive bactericide concentrations. In this study, the Sterikon bioindicator was evaluated for determining the minimum inhibitory concentrations of 5 industrial bactericides (dichlorophen, sulphone, thiocarbamate, isothiazolone and a quarternary ammonium compound) for the monitoring of the concentrations of these compounds in industrial water systems. The results indicated that the Sterikon bioindicator can be used for the determination of bactericide concentrations.