APPLICATION OF STERIKON(R) BIOINDICATORS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF BACTERICIDE CONCENTRATIONS

Biofouling in industrial water systems is normally prevented by the us e of bactericides. However, bactericide programmes often fail owing to the lack of suitable techniques for determining the in situ bacterici de concentration and this usually results in either inadequate or exce ssive bactericide concentrations. In this study, the Sterikon(R) bioin dicator was evaluated for determining the minimum inhibitory concentra tions of 5 industrial bactericides (dichlorophen, sulphone, thiocarbam ate, isothiazolone and a quaternary ammonium compound) for the monitor ing of the concentrations of these compounds in industrial water syste ms. The results indicated that the Sterikon(R) bioindicator can be use d for the determination of bactericide concentrations.