Abstract

The different techniques employed for biofilms studies can be classified in techniques of direct observation and indirect analysis, which requires the biofilm detachment. Some of these detachment techniques are sonication and scraped-ultrasound. This work structured an experimental design that permits to obtain efficient results for such biofilm detachment employing the sonication technique, for it, 85% was established like acceptable minimum efficiency of viable cells removed. They developed bacteria biofilm of the Sulphate Reducing Bacteria Desulfovibrio termitidis for 24 hours on iron sheets and coupons of carbon steel of different geometries and, after obtained the maximum efficiency, the same one with the efficiency of the technique of scraped-ultrasound was compared. The evaluation of the different sonication equipment variables permitted to reach efficiencies above the established rank. The parameters that permitted to obtain maximum efficiency of 88% were: total time 1 minute, impulse “on” 5 seconds, impulse “off” 10 seconds and 65% of amplitude for the iron sheets and the coupons of carbon steel of rectangular geometry; while for the coupons of concave carbon steel geometry was: total time 2 minutes, impulse “on” 2,5 seconds, impulse “off” 10 seconds and 70% of amplitude.
Additionally, the sonication technique resulted to be 10 times more effective than the technique of scraped-ultrasound at exponential levels.