Sterilox is a new biocide produced with an electrochemical system which is
marketed by Sterilox Medical Ltd. Sterilox is used in the medical industry
in place of glutaraldehyde to cold-sterilise surgical instruments such as
endoscopes, and is currently being considered for use in controlling
microbiologically-influenced corrosion. The device is simple in
construction and operates on the electrodecomposition of brine.
The current study investigates the mode of action of the biocide upon
planktonic populations of the sulfate-reducing bacterium (SRB)
Desulfovibrio indonensis
NCIMB 13468, isolated from a severe corrosion
failure. The effect of biocide on SRB cells was evaluated using Atomic
Force Microscopy (AFM), a technique which allows three-dimensional imaging
of bacterial cells in their hydrated state. A novel method of immobilising
bacterial cells was designed using E. Coli
NCTC 9001 in order to
image cells free from interferences such as salts and detritus from the
culture medium.
