Removal rates of bacterial cells from glass surfaces by fluid shear.

A simple kinetic relationship is proposed to model the rate of removal of bacterial cells from solid surface by a shearing force. The theory is compared to experimentally obtained data for the removal of B. cereus cells from glass capillaries, the shear being imparted by a the flow of medium through the capillary. The critical shear stress required to sterilize the capillary wall is obtained experimentally for a number of industrial contaminant bacteria. The effect of settling time on critical shear stress is also investigated.