SBIR-STTR Award

A fluorometric approach to the identification and characterization of microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) is proposed. All living cells, including bacteria and other microorganisms, contain nicotinamide adenine dinucleotides (NAD) which serve as cofactors in many metabolic reactions. The reduced forms [NAD(P)H] are high energy molecules which fluoresce at 46Onm when irradiated with light at 34Onm. This fluorescence property of NADPH may be used to measure microorganism cell concentration and activity using a small, portable, low-cost fluorometric analyzer. Fluorometric measurements of NADPH may be supplemented by detection of other natural microbial fluorophores such as tryptophan, tyrosine and ATP. In the proposed Phase I program, Biotronics will build a bench-type (not portable) fiber fluorometer which will be evaluated by the Institute for Applied Microbiology (University of Tennessee/Oak Ridge National Laboratory) which has had extensive experience in the study of microbially influenced corrosion. Fluorometric identification of MIC provides a number of advantages as a laboratory or field procedure: 1. Well-established microbial phenomenon The fluorescence of bacteria and other microbes has been convincingly demonstrated in both laboratory investigations and on-line biochemical process control. 2. Cost-effective, compact instrumentation The MIC application should allow for the development of an inexpensive, compact, portable, special purpose fluorometer suitable for both laboratory and field usage.

Benefit:
Field sampling kits and the XRD mineralogical fingerprint detection service will provide personnel with the opportunity to get unambiguous quick and inexpensive answers regarding the occurrence of MIC. The cost is potentially much less than currently available approaches and should find wide use in all industries and be therefore a commercial success.

Keywords:
Microbial, Microbial, Steels, Copper, makinawite, naval, Biocorrosion, mineralogical, corrosion