Liquid Biocides

Liquid Biocides for Scalable, Precise Treatment

Flexible, on the fly solutions designed for continuous dosing, program optimization, and long-term microbial control.

OSP’s Liquid Biocide Products are intended for asset owners with the infrastructure and resources to support measured, adjustable dosing. These chemistries are commonly used in ongoing treatment programs where control, scalability, and integration with system monitoring are required.

Liquid Biocides Are Best Suited For

Continuous or semi-continuous dosing or maintenance
Systems with injection or metering capability
Programs requiring dosage flexibility and optimization
Long-term microbial and biofilm control strategies

When Liquid Biocides Make Sense

Liquid products are ideal when:

Treatment volumes are large or variable
Dosing may need to be adjusted over time
Systems require ongoing protection, not batch treatment
Asset owners want to integrate treatment with monitoring and testing

Liquids can be part of a broader treatment program, often supported by DNA testing, Kill Studies, and water chemistry analysis.

Liquid Biocide Product Line

OSP has conducted microbial diagnostics and treatment optimization work across the following, but not limited to the major producing basins and fuel markets in North America. Our experience spans upstream production and completions, midstream gathering, transmission, and storage, downstream processing and distribution, and finished fuels and terminal operations.

From reservoirs and produced water systems to storage terminals and distribution networks, OSP understands how microbial risks evolve across the entire energy value chain and how to address them at each stage.

— Oil & Gas

DNA testing supports asset owners focused on:

Protecting infrastructure Improving production reliability.
Extending asset life
Reducing treatment inefficiencies

— Fuels

In fuel environments, microbial contamination can lead to:

Tank corrosion
Sludge formation
Plugged filters
System failures

DNA testing helps asset owners de-risk storage systems and prevent costly failures before they occur.

— Industrial Water Treatment

Highly regulated environments require proactive microbial management. DNA testing supports control of:

Biofouling
Slime formation
Biofilm development
Souring and odor generation

Glutaraldehyde Liquids (Glut)

Active
Glutaraldehyde

OSP Products
GA-50
GA-25
GA-15

Primary Applications
Oil & Gas – Hydraulic fracturing, drilling, completion, water flood systems, produced water systems, pipelines, storage systems and tanks

Industrial Water – Cooling towers, heat systems, closed-loop & process water, wastewater

Why Choose It
• Broad-spectrum efficacy
• Balanced kill speed and protection duration

Bronopol Liquids

Active
Bronopol
(2-bromo-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol)

OSP Products
2K7
2K7 WM

Primary Applications

Oil & Gas – Hydraulic fracturing, drilling, completions, produced water treatment, pipeline maintenance

Industrial Water – Cooling systems, light industrial & utility water systems

Fuels – Storage tank water bottom, intermittent water contamination

Why Choose It
• Broad-spectrum, non-selective chemistry
• Non-ionic with excellent compatibility
• Balanced performance and protection

DBNPA Liquids

Active
DBNPA (2,2-Dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide)

OSP Products
DB7

Primary Applications

Oil & Gas – Hydraulic fracturing, water flood systems, produced water systems and disposal wells, pipelines, storage systems and tanks

Industrial Water – Cooling towers, process water systems

Why Choose It

Rapid microbial kill
Broad-spectrum, non-selective
Excellent compatibility with industrial chemistries
- Used extensively and reused/recycled water systems in the oil field.

Quaternary Amine (Quat) Liquids

Active

Didecyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride (DDAC)

Alkyldimethylbenzyl Ammonium Chloride
(ADBAC)

Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride (CTAC)

OSP Products
QD-10
QD-50
CTAC
ADBAC

Primary Applications

Oil & Gas – Hydraulic fracturing, produced water systems and wells, water flood system, pipelines, storage systems and tanks

Industrial Water – Cooling towers, heat exchangers, closed-loop and water process systems, wastewater systems

Other – Pulp & paper mills, slimicide applications, water-based coatings

Why Choose It
• Effective against bacteria & algae where biofilm penetration should be used.
• Surface adsorption suppresses regrowth
• Easy to handle and dose

Glutaraldehyde / Quat Combination Liquids

Active
Glutaraldehyde + Quaternary Amine

OSP Products
GQ 2510
GQ 123
GQ 510
GQ 52

Primary Applications

Oil & Gas – Hydraulic fracturing, waterflood systems, produced water systems and disposal wells, pipelines, storage and tanks

Industrial Water – Cooling towers, heat exchangers, closed-loop and process water systems, wastewater

Why Choose It
• Two biocidal actives offer biofilm penetration and a robust microbial kill
• Strong biofilm inhibition
• Fast kill with extended protection

Isothiazolinone Liquids

Active
Chloromethylisothiazolinone (CMIT)

OSP Products
CMIT

Primary Applications

Fuels - used extensively in the fuels industry in low strength

Industrial Water – Cooling towers, process water systems, pulp & paper mills, metalworking fluids

Why Choose It

• Highly effective at low dosages
• Stable across a wide pH range
• Ideal for closed-loop systems

MBO Liquids

Active

3,3′-Methylene-bis(5-methyloxazolidine) (MBO)

OSP Products
MB7
MB7 FP

Primary Applications

Oil & Gas – Hydraulic fracturing, drilling, completion, hydrotesting fluids

Fuels – Storage tanks, pipelines, water bottoms

Why Choose It
•Broad-spectrum efficacy
• Slow-release for long-lasting protection

Specialty & Alternative Liquid Biocides

Active
THPS, THPC, PAA, THNM, DMO, Dazomet

OSP Products
THPS / THPC
PAA
THNM
DMO
Dazomet

Primary Applications

Oil & Gas – Souring control, produced water treatment, injection water systems, biofilm control programs

Industrial Water – Cooling, wastewater treatment, CIP & sanitation programs, industrial process water

Why Choose It
• Targeted solutions for specific challenges

How Liquids Fit Into a Treatment Strategy

Liquid biocides are commonly used when:

Systems require ongoing microbial control
Dosing flexibility is important
Programs are informed by DNA testing, Kill Studies, and water chemistry
Operators are transitioning from batch or solid treatments to long-term control

Liquids can also be used alongside solid products, depending on system design and operational constraints.

Not Sure Which Liquid Product Is Right For You?

Connect with an Expert Today

Local Solid Manufacturing & Custom Formulation Capabilities

OSP manufactures a line of registered solid and liquid biocide. Our solid products are manufactured in Calgary, Alberta, allowing for direct oversight of quality control, formulation, and production standards. Liquid formulations can be blended in basin to economize transport costs. We offer customization capabilities, custom packaging formats, and application-specific formulation support. This client centered approach allows us to align product performance with your user needs, rather than you to adapt to a one-size-fits-all product. To explore a custom solution, please contact our sales team to discuss customization options.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Product Information:

What types of liquid biocides does OSP offer?

OSP provides a range of industrial biocides in liquid form, featuring a range of products, with various base chemistries, including, Glutaraldehyde (Glute), Bronopol, DBNPA, Quaternary Ammonium Compounds(quats), Glute/Quat, CMIT, MIT, MBO, PAA, Dazomet, THNM, DMO, etc. Our liquids portfolio is designed for various applications including oil & gas, industrial water treatment, and fuel applications.

Are OSP liquid biocides registered and compliant?

Yes. All OSP biocides are following the applicable regulatory requirements.

Can OSP help select the right liquid biocide for my system?

Absolutely. Biocide selection depends on water chemistry, temperature, system design, microbial load, and operational goals. Our technical team routinely supports customers with product selection and treatment design.

Product Specific Questions

What are the 2K7 (Bronopol) liquid products best used for?

2K7 is a non-oxidizing biocide and offers a good balance between speed of kill and length of protection. It’s commonly used in drilling, completion, workover, and fracturing fluids and used broadly in various other applications including industrial water systems due to its broad spectrum, non-selective chemistry. It is non-ionic in nature and has excellent compatibility with various industrial chemistries.

What differentiates DB7 liquid from other biocides?

DB7 provides a very rapid kill, making it well suited for applications where fast action is required, it offers broad spectrum efficacy, is non-ionic in nature and is highly compatible with other industrial chemicals.

Where is DB7 commonly applied?

DB7 is widely used in fracturing fluids, oilfield water flood systems, drilling, completion and workover fluids, produced water systems, oil field gas production and transmission pipelines, storage tanks, cooling towers, paper and pulp processes, process water systems and other industrial water systems requiring rapid biocide performance.

What are glutaraldehyde-based products typically used for?

Glutaraldehyde products are used for broad-spectrum microbial control in hydraulic fracturing fluids, oilfield water flood systems, drilling, completion, and workover fluids, produced-water systems and disposal wells, oil field gas production and transmission pipeline systems, storage tanks and surface facilities, industrial recirculating cooling water towers, heat systems, closed-loop and process water systems, and industrial wastewater systems.

Why choose glutaraldehyde for maintenance programs?

Glutaraldehyde offers a good balance between speed of kill and length of protection, making it well suited for continuous microbial treatment, requiring robust performance and long-term protection between maintenance cycles.

How do solids compare to liquid products?

Solid formats offer ease of handling, improved safety, while liquids are designed for continuous, larger water volume applications, allowing for precise metering and rapid dispersion. The best option depends on system design and operational needs.

Treatment & Application Questions

How do I know how much liquid biocide to use?

Treatment rates depend on system volume, microbial load, temperature, and contamination severity. OSP provides recommended based on registration guidelines in our biocide product bulletins and can assist with system specific treatment calculations, upon request.

Can liquid biocides be overdosed?

Proper biocide selection and dosing ensure effective control while minimizing unnecessary exposure. Please refer to product bulletins and biocide labels for typical dosage rates or reach out to our technical team to advise on biocide selection and optimal treatment rates for your application.

Use cases and choosing the right product

When should I use bronopol vs. DBNPA?

Bronopol is often selected as it offers a good balance between speed of kill and length of protection, while DBNPA is preferred when a rapid kill is required. Both are broad spectrum, non-ionic, non-oxidizing biocides that have excellent compatibility with most industrial chemistries.

When is glutaraldehyde the better choice?

Glutaraldehyde offers broad spectrum efficacy against aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, fungi and biofilm. It has a wide application range because it offers a good balance of speed of kill and length of protection. It reacts with primary amines, like amino acids in the bacterial cell wall, disrupting the cells metabolic functions, resulting in cell death.

Can biocide products be combined in a program?

Yes, they can be combined, and alternating or combining biocides is common to optimize performance, reduce bacterial load, and address dynamic system conditions. Though many of our biocide products offer broad-spectrum compatibility, lab testing should be completed to verify compatibility prior to combining biocide products and other chemistries in a treatment program.

Performance, Maintenance and Ongoing Use

How quickly do liquid biocides work?

Many liquid biocide products provide significant microbial reduction within minutes to hours. Typically, we have observed a significant reduction in bacteria levels after 24 hours for our commonly used liquid biocide products. Full system control may take longer depending on biofilm presence, system complexity and total bacterial load.

Will I see immediate results?

Every system and microbial community is unique, with various limiting factors that can affect biocide performance. High levels of organic matter, oils, or suspended solids can consume or deactivate the biocide, while established biofilms may physically shield microorganisms and reduce contact with the active biocide chemistry. Their performance also depends on adequate contact time and good mixing, which can be challenging in high-flow or poorly circulated systems. Water chemistry, such as pH, temperature, salinity, and the presence of reactive or scavenging species, can affect biocide stability and longevity.

How often should I treat my system?

Treatment frequency depends on system risk, operating conditions, and monitoring microbial data. Programs may include continuous, batch, or periodic shock treatments, that vary based on the application. Microbial testing, including a biocide efficacy study, can be utilized to determine what biocide and optimal loading to achieve suitable microbial control.

Is it advisable to periodically change or switch the biocide products I utilize to prevent microbes from becoming resistant to biocides over time?

Unlike antibiotics, biocides do not have highly specific targets within bacterial cells, so microbes do not develop or transfer resistance to them over time. Our biocides act through broad, non-specific mechanisms that bacteria cannot effectively adapt to. As a result, routinely rotating biocides to prevent resistance is not necessary. When a biocide appears to lose effectiveness, it is typically due to changes in system conditions, such as increased contamination, altered operating conditions, new nutrient sources, or under-treating, rather than microbial resistance. Further microbial testing, such as qPCR or DNA 16S sequencing, may be required to determine microbial functional groups and specific genus, to determine the optimal biocide(s) for the application.

Have a water or microbial problem?

Our team can help you understand what’s happening, what’s causing it, and how to fix it — effectively and sustainably.

Connect with an Expert Today