Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-m6dg7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T15:22:03.033Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Carbon and Steel Surfaces Modified by Leptothrix Discophora SP-6: Characterization and Implications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Tuan Anh Nguyen
Affiliation:
anh.tuannguyen@coe.montana.edu, Corrosion, Electrochemistry & Analysis Laboratory (CEAL), Western Transportation Institute, College of Engineering, Montana State University, 2310 University Way, Bldg 2, Suite 2, Bozeman, MT, 59717, United States
Yuzhuo Lu
Affiliation:
luyuzhuo@gmail.com, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China, People's Republic of
Shizhe Song
Affiliation:
szsong@tju.edu.cn, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China, People's Republic of
Xianming Shi
Affiliation:
Xianming_s@coe.montana.edu, Corrosion, Electrochemistry & Analysis Laboratory (CEAL), Western Transportation Institute, College of Engineering, Montana State University, 2310 University Way, Bldg 2, Suite 2, Bozeman, MT, 59717, United States
Get access

Abstract

Leptothrix discophora SP-6, a type of manganese(Mn)-oxidizing bacteria, has been known to accumulate Mn oxides from the aqueous environment and thus play a key role in microbiologically influenced corrosion by increasing the electrochemical potential of steel and other metals. Similarly, this bacterium was found to modify the surface of glassy carbon in aqueous solution and increase its potential (i.e. ennoblement). In the latter case, biomineralized Mn oxides can be used as cathodic reactants for a new generation of microbial fuel cells featuring a bio-cathode. In this preliminary study, factors affecting the biofilm formation and biomineralization processes were examined. The inflow of air into the culture medium was found essential to sustain the ennoblement of substrate electrodes. The OCP and FESEM/EDS data indicated that a smoother initial substrate surface generally led to better ennoblement. Polarizing the carbon electrode at +500mVSCE for 15 minutes was found to facilitate the ennoblement on carbon electrodes, and so did the coating with a poly(L-lysine) layer. Independent of substrate material, initial surface roughness and pretreatment, there were three parameters in the EIS equivalent circuit that correlated well with the OCP indicating the level of ennoblement by L. discophora SP-6, i.e., electrolyte resistance, double-layer capacitance, and low-frequencies capacitance. These fascinating findings merit further investigation as they may shed light on the fundamental bacteria/substrate interactions and help advance the knowledge base needed for the engineering applications.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

[1] Johnsen, R., Bardal, E., Corrosion 41 (5) (1985) 296302.Google Scholar
[2] Mollica, A., Trevis, A., Correlation Entre la Formation de la Pellicule Primaire et la Modification de la Cathodique sur des Aciers Inoxydables Experimentes en eau de Mer aux Vitesses de 0.3 a 2 m/s, in: Proceedings of 4th International Congress on Marine Corrosion and Fouling, Antibes, France, 1976.Google Scholar
[3] Motoda, S.,Suzuki, Y.,Shinohara, T., Corros. Sci. 31 (1990) 515.Google Scholar
[4] Shi, X., Avci, R. and Lewandowski, Z., Electrochemistry of Passive Metals Modified by Manganese Oxides Deposited by Leptothrix discophora: Two-step Model Verified by TOF-SIMS. Corrosion Science, 2002, 44(5): 1027 Google Scholar
[5] Dickinson, W. H., Caccavo, F. Jr , Olesen, B. and Lewandowski, Z., Ennoblement of Stainless Steel by the Manganese-Depositing Bacterium Leptothrix discophora, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, July 1997, p. 25022506 Vol. 63, No. 7 Google Scholar
[6] Tebo, B. M., Bargar, J. R Clement, B. G., Dick, G. J Murray, K. J., Parker, D., Verity, R. and Webb, S. M., Biogenic Manganese Oxides: Properties and Mechanisms of Formation, Annu. Rev. Earth Planet Sci., (2004)32:287-328Google Scholar
[7] Ghiorse, W. C. and Chapnick, S. D. (1983) Environ Biogeochem., Ecol Bull (Stockhom) 35:367-376Google Scholar
[8] Nealson, K. H., Tebo, B. M. and Rosson, R. A. (1988) Adv. Appl Microbial 33:279-318Google Scholar
[9] Rhoads, A., Beyenal, H., and Lewandowski, Z. (2005) Environ Sci. Technol. 39:4666-4671Google Scholar
[10] Tebo, B. M., Johnson, H. A McKarthy, J. K. and Templeton, A. S. (2005) Trends in microbiology 13 (9) 421428 Google Scholar
[11] Dickinson, W., Lewandowski, Z., Proceedings of Corrosion 1995, paper no. 223, Houston, TX, NACE, 1995.Google Scholar
[12] Dexter, S. C., and Zhang, H. J.. 1990. Effect of biofilms on corrosion potential of stainless steel alloys in estuarine waters, p. 333. In Proceedings of the 11th International Corrosion Congress, Florence, Italy.Google Scholar
[13] Zhang, Y., Li, J., Shen, Y., Wang, M., Li, J., Poly-L-lysine Functionalization of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes, J. Phys. Chem. B 2004, 108, 1534315346 Google Scholar
[14] Ferlony, P., Mastracgostino, M. and Meneghel, L., Impedance Analysis of Electronically Conducting Polymers, Electrochimica Acta. Vol. 41, No. 1. pp. 2733. 1996 Google Scholar