Generation of bacterial aerosols by interaction of microbial suspension with hot surfaces

Abstract

Behaviour of liquid droplets colliding onto stationary hot surfaces has been extensively investigated during the last few decades. However, a number of studies focused on possible aerosolisation of viable microorganisms from hot surfaces when the water was biologically contaminated is very limited. This paper investigates general possibility of such aerosolisation of various bacterial strains with particular focus on the influence of crucial process parameters, including surface temperature and initial microbial concentration in the water. Two common environmental bacterial species, stress sensitive Escherichia Coli and robust Bacillus Subtilis were challenged in the experimental program. It was found that substantial amounts of microbial particles of both strains could survive in the process, even if the surface temperature reaches 480 °C.