Microbial degradation of water miscible metal working fluids

Abstract: Water miscible metal working fluids (MWF) are prone to contamination by bacteria and fungi. In the present work it was investigated which components of a model MWF emulsion were most readily degraded by microorganisms and which are relatively resistant to biodegradation. The microbial community colonising an MWF emulsion, during its lifetime under in-use conditions was analysed up to species level. Shifts in the composition of microbial community were related to chemical changes in the MWF emulsion over time. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]