Chemical effects of biofilm colonization on 304 stainless steel

Abstract

Changes in the surface concentrations of the main alloying elements of an as-received 304 stainless steel, exposed to a mixed culture of biofilm-forming bacteria under flowing conditions, were observed using Auger electron spectroscopy. In the oxide film close to the bulk stainless steel, there was an enrichment in the relative concentration of Cr with a corresponding decrease in the relative Fe concentration as compared to a control coupon exposed only to sterile media. There were no changes observed in the relative Ni concentration.