Cultivation-based identification of microorganisms in metalworking fluids and their role in hydrocarbon degradation

Water-miscible metalworking fluids are widely used in industrial processes. Despite the fact that they contain biocides, they are almost always colonized by microorganisms, which degrade different components of the liquid, may clog machines due to biofilm formation and might pose a health risk to workers. In this study, samples from four metalworking machines operated with the same metalworking concentrate from two different locations, were analyzed with respect to microbial growth. Twenty-seven bacterial species and one fungus were identified. From these, twenty species were not observed before as colonizers of metalworking fluids. Growth of microorganisms, resulting health risks, putative contamination pathways and metabolic pathways involved in biodegradation are analyzed and discussed in this study. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=84 SRC="FIGDIR/small/712622v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (29K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@15a93d0org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@19e6a84org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@16325deorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@4b3255_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG