2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide, a compound with slimicidal activity

Area of Science:

• Industrial microbiology
• Environmental chemistry
• Aquatic toxicology

Background:

• Microbial growth, or "slime," can cause significant operational issues in industrial water systems, including papermaking and cooling towers.
• Effective microbial control is essential for maintaining system efficiency and preventing biofouling.
• Soluble oil emulsions are susceptible to bacterial contamination, impacting their performance and shelf-life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide (DBNPA) as a slimicide in papermaking systems and cooling towers.
• To assess the bactericidal activity of DBNPA against bacteria in soluble oil emulsions.
• To determine the environmental impact of DBNPA hydrolysis products on aquatic organisms.

Main Methods:

• Laboratory and field tests were conducted to assess DBNPA's performance as a slimicide.
• Bactericidal activity was tested in soluble oil emulsion matrices.
• Acute toxicity tests were performed on fathead minnows using DBNPA hydrolysis products.

Main Results:

• DBNPA demonstrated significant efficacy in controlling slime formation in papermaking systems and cooling towers.
• The compound proved effective in eliminating bacteria within soluble oil emulsions.
• Hydrolysis of DBNPA at pH 9 and 23°C produced byproducts with low acute toxicity to fathead minnows.

Conclusions:

• 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide is a highly effective antimicrobial agent for industrial water treatment and fluid preservation.
• The environmental profile of DBNPA is favorable due to the low toxicity of its degradation products.
• DBNPA presents a viable and relatively safe option for microbial control in diverse industrial applications.