An innovative method for preventing biocorrosion through microbial adhesion inhibition

An immunonoglobulin solution containing IgA, IgG and IgM was used to preven t the formation of Pseudomonas fluorescens (P. fluorescens) biofilms on car bon steel and two different types of stainless steel (SS) of industrial gra de. A marked inhibition of bacterial adhesion was found when an immunoglobu lin film was formed on the metal surface prior to the immersion of the samp le in bacterial cultures. Microscopic techniques like scanning electron mic roscopy (SEM) and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) were us ed for assessing adhesion inhibition. The electrochemical behavior of the s teels was evaluated by means of potentiodynamic runs, corrosion potential v s. time evolution and linear polarization resistance techniques applied in the presence and the absence of the immunoglobulins. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scie nce Ltd. All rights reserved.