Bacterial Contamination Assessment in Water Miscible Metalworking Fluids and Water by Bioluminescence

摘要

This paper describes the results obtained in determining bacteria attack in samples of water miscible metalworking fluids used in plants by means of an alternative method to those commonly employed. With the method descibed here, based on bioluminescence, it is possible to detect quickly and reliably, bacteria growth over 10~3 CFU/ml ( Colony Forming Units ) in plant water and water-based metalworking fluids of different composition. The equipment used in this work is portable, thus making the testing easy directly in the workshop. The method is based on bioluminescence and needs a specific protocol to define the range of tolerance for the instrument reading. It is simple, requires limited lab experience, little lab equipment and gives an answer in minutes, instead of days, as is the case with dip slides. It is also cost-effective and limits the impact on the environment, with no specific biological material to be disposed of. All results given have been obtained using both bioluminescence and the dip slide test, carried out at the same time.