Biocides, Slime and Paper

Microbiological Deposits in Paper Machine Circuits

Due to the specific chemical and physical conditions in paper machine circuits depending on
raw materials, process control and products, more or less microbial growth is favoured.
Whereas freely suspended microorganisms hardly cause production problems, the opera-
tional breakdowns caused by slime may be considerable. Normally the process control of
paper machines is as specific so that the slimes of the different paper machine circuits are
not comparable.

The terms "deposits - slime 'covers all chemical and biological deposits in paper machine circuits.
A distinction is made between

• Biological deposits: bacteria, fungi, yeasts. They are slimy, slippery and difficult to disperse

• Chemical deposits: resin, stickies. They are sticky, flaky and easy to disperse

• Mixed complex deposits such as microorganisms, chemicals, fibres and fillers

AUTHOR: ALEXANDER FRANK Article from: inside acat 5/2007, page 1 of 3

Biocides, Slime and Paper
Microbiological Deposits in Paper Machine Circuits

In paper machine circuits normally we have (increase of filler solubility and degree of
problems with mixed, complex deposits. The hardness, higher consumption of chemical
growth of these bacteria depends on additives)
-> pH-value and temperature,
-> content of dissolved oxygen (whereby oxy
gen is not essential for bacteria growth),
-> hydrodynamic characteristics of the circuit
-> chemicals and additives.

Food supply for bacteria is found in:

-> chemicals and additives, but also in
dilution water, fresh water
-> fibres and fines
-> the type of the closed cycle management of
materials within the plants

Bacteria are roughly classified by:

• their form (thread-like, spherical, rod-
shaped, etc.)
• their multiplication (spores, non-spore-
forming)
• their oxygen demand (aerobes, anaerobes)
• problem causers (slime or odour formers),
Problems arise predominantly from
-> reduction of sulphate to sulphide (odour
problems )
-> oxidation of iron 0 to 2 + (corrosion),
-> formation of slime (impact on runnability of
paper machine),
-> reduction of pH value and redox potential
Measures to prevent slime
(Slime monitoring)
Currently chemicals (biocides, dispersing
agents, peroxide, ozone, etc.), biotechnologi-
cal processes (antagonistic microorganisms
and enzymes) as well as fluidic and physical
processes are used to prevent the formation
of slimes and other microbial deposits. If bio-
cides are only moderately used (cost-benefit
analysis) in paper machine circuits for the
preservation of pulp and chemical additives or
for fresh water treatment, resistant bacterial
strains will be formed very quickly. To avoid
this, different biocidal active ingredients
should be used alternately, which have been
extensively tested in the laboratory.

AUTHOR: ALEXANDER FRANK Article from: inside acat 5/2007, page 2 of 3

Biocides, Slime and Paper
Microbiological Deposits in Paper Machine Circuits
Mechanism of action of biocidal active sub-
stances:
--> Fast-acting, rapidly degrading "killer" - bio-
cides:
Some micro-organisms are protected by a
slime matrix. For the removal very aggressive
chemicals such as strong oxidizing materials
or strong bases are used, which have to be
handled with care.
--> Longer-acting biocides - "conserver"
These biocides affect the metabolism of bac-
teria and try to sustain parameters such as
redox potential, pH- value, hardness, conduc-
tivity, oxygen content and the like.
Case study “biocides, slime and paper”
Problem polymer:
Sampling:
Preparation of a 0,4% polymer solution
Evaluation:
Bioburden via Petrifilm
 Immediately after biocide addition
 After 2 hours
 After 4 hours
 After 16 hours
AUTHOR: ALEXANDER FRANK
Incubation period: 72 hours at 35°C;
Amount of biocide: 100ppm
For the laboratory test the parameters viscosi-
ty and pH value were included, as experience
has shown that some of biocidal active sub-
stances (eg, phosphonium) split polymer mol-
ecules and thus additionally strongly reduces
the mechanism.
Evaluation
2/1: Bioburden fresh water – already heavily
contaminated with germs (about 1000 bacte-
rial cultures/ml)
2/2: Bioburden polymer solution – heavily,
too numerous to count
4/6: Amount biocide 100ppm (in this case
microszid 1500) contamination = zero
2/7: Amount biocide 100ppm (in this case
microszid 3000) contamination about 120
bacterial cultures/ml
In all cases the biocidal preservative had no
negative influence on the polymer molecule
(constant viscosity).
Article from: inside acat 5/2007, page 3 of 3