Kinetic Analysis of Corrosive Biofilms by Bioluminescent Method of ATP Identification

The quantification of Sulphate-Reducing Bacteria (SRB) and other corrosive cells in biofilms is of great practical and scientific relevance. Common microbial techniques based on selective cell cultivation are of limited usefulness for quantification and characterization of environmental populations since the used methods are time-consuming and inconvenient for field trials or express analysis. 
To determine the total concentration of cells composing the corrosive biofilms, a new approach was developed using bioluminescent method of ATP detection. The method also was optimised to determine microorganisms number in mixed cultures. The study of kinetics of corrosive biofilm formation in pilot systems modeling the field trials were carried out. The influence of the following factors on biofilm formation was revealed out: microbial content of media, presence of oil, sulphide layer on the surface and metal type. The express screening of potential biocides active in relation to corrosive biofilms and the determination of minimal concentrations of tested compounds provoking the death of corrosive biofilms were demonstrated herein.