Oil-Eating Bacteria

Macker,

you can get a culture medium to test for Pseudomonas here.

Many are the slimes, though, and there are other genera that also can use oil as a carbon source and might colonize your Mill Scale tank..

I don't know too much about the Mill Scale removal process, so am not sure whether changing the pH would be feasible or would be counterproductive? But according to the micro, "Most, if not all, Pseudomonas species fail to grow under acid conditions pH 4.5".

The opposite might be true of some other slimy things. What's your present pH?

Thanks "ArtSmith"

I have mixed up a batch with white viniger (3.5pH) so that should show their tolerance to acid conditions ................. they live in 6.8 - 7.5 pH at present.

Will send the results, when known ..................... Bye for now, enjoy the weekend ...

There's a branch of the Pseudomonas family called Zooglea that forms "flocs with dendrite outgrowths" in culture: I haven't seen a picture of them but there might be one online. Their cousin Frateuria is the only one of the four that is listed to grow at pH 3.6.

Temperature is another indicator: the Pseudomonas clan will grow at a temperature range between 4C and 43C, depending on the species. If you are concerned about potential biohazard, temperature gives a good indication: a pathogen has to thrive at human body temperature. How warm is the water in the tank?

Alkaligenes is another oil-eater, found in soil and water, will grow only at 25-37 C. (I have the impression that alkaligenes may be a common, mostly harmless parasite in the gut flora, but some can be opportunistic pathogens). Alkaligenes produce alkali: you could try growing a culture for a couple of days, take pH before and after. Or, take a jar of culture and refrigerate it. If it grows at below 25C, it's not Alkaligenes. (don't forget to include some whatever oily stuff they're eating, when you make the culture).

Hi ArtSmith,

Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmm ...................

They don't like acid .......... thats for sure !!

In less than 48 hours - all sliming function stopped and the acid liquid (once clear) has turned a light faun brown - probably the dead bodies .... will know latter in the week, after I put them under the microscope.

10/10 - For a "KISS" answer to a 'Slimy problem" ......

Now I have to build the solution machine, to 3 Cubic/day - Slimy by-product ...

Thanks for your efforts with this matter.

Best regards,

Macker

You're very welcome. I'm glad it looks like this is a viable solution. Let me know how it works out in the tank.

can't help directly but you may want to talk to the folks at eatoils.com