Microbial Toxicity of Ethanolamines

Abstract

Metal working fluids (MWFs) are used in metal working industries in processes like grinding, turning, drilling and cutting. In the presence of water the complex mixture of materials in metal working fluids will be susceptible to microbial deterioration. The control of contamination of MWFs usually is performed by the addition of different antimicrobial agents (biocides). Alkanolamines are used in metal working fluids as corrosion inhibitors but they have also antimicrobial effect. Studies of few different alkanolamines showed their antimicrobial effect to be enhanced at high pH. From the other hand, development of resistant populations occurs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of toxicity of mono-, di- and triethanolamine for bacterial strains isolated from metal working fluids at different pH values and different concentration.