ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY EXAMINATION OF THE TOPOGRAPHY OF A HYDRATED BACTERIAL BIOFILM ON A COPPER SURFACE

A bacterium, designated CCI#8, that was isolated from a corroded coppe r coupon colonized both polished and unpolished copper surfaces under batch culture conditions. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) images reveale d that the biofilm was heterogeneous in nature, both in depth and in c ell distribution. Bacterial cells were shown to be associated with pit s on the surface of the unpolished copper coupons. These observations support previous studies that CCI#8 is associated with the pitting cor rosion of copper.