COMPARISON OF FLUORINATED POLYMERS AGAINST STAINLESS-STEEL, GLASS ANDPOLYPROPYLENE IN MICROBIAL BIOFILM ADHERENCE AND REMOVAL

Biofilm formation is a long-standing problem in ultrapure water and bi oprocess fluid transport lines. The standard materials used in these a pplications (316L stainless steel, polypropylene and glass) have long been known to be good surfaces for the attachment of bacteria and othe r biological materials. To compare the relative tenacity of biofilms g rown on materials used in manufacturing processes, a model system for biofilm attachment was constructed that approximates the conditions in industrial process systems. New fluorinated polymers were compared to the above materials by evaluating the surface area coverage of bacter ial populations on materials before and after mild chemical treatment, In addition, contact angle studies compared the relative hydrophobici ty of surfaces to suspensions of bacteria in growth media, and scannin g electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy studies were used to characterize surface smoothness and surface defects. Biofilm adherenc e to polymer-based substrata was determined to be a function of both s urface finish and surface chemistry. Specifically, materials that are less chemically reactive, as indicated by higher contact angle, can ha ve rougher surface finishes and still be amenable to biofilm removal.