Abstract
Biocides used in industrial water systems are numerous and available from several different manufacturers. Efficacy data for these biocides is typically available, however direct comparisons are difficult to make for many reasons, most notably the different methods, organisms and test conditions used by the different manufacturers. For this reason, a comprehensive review including typical organism physiological information, general biocide mechanisms and some limited toxicity data of commonly used industrial water treatment biocides was conducted. Additionally, twelve commonly used industrial water treatment biocides were selected and evaluated against a variety of organisms using standardized methods and conditions. Overall, for the organisms and protocols utilized, the products that were based on quaternary chemistries were the most effective. Blends of biocides that included quaternary chemistries also outperformed their single biocide counterparts in many cases. The efficacy results along with the physical and chemical properties of the biocides were combined and are summarized in biocide selection decision trees. Together, this data provides a useful reference document for water treatment professionals.
