INIFTA   05425
INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACIONES FISICO-QUIMICAS TEORICAS Y APLICADAS
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
“Application of SEM to the problem of biocorrosion and biofouling in industrial systems”.
Autor/es:
GUIAMET P. S.; GÓMEZ DE SARAVIA S.
Revista:
Acta Microscópica
Referencias:
Año: 2007 vol. 16 p. 305 - 306
ISSN:
0716-5269
Resumen:
Metal surfaces immersed in natural or industrial seawaters undergo a sequence of biological and inorganic changes that lead to biofouling and corrosion, respectively [1, 2]. The sequence of biological changes is due to the irreversible adhesion of different types of microorganisms (bacteria, microalgae, fungi, protozoa) on the metal surface by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of polysaccharidic nature. This permanent bonding result in the development of a biofilm, that can be considered as a gelatinous  structure of  95 % or more water, formed by an EPS matrix, cells and diverse inorganic detritus [3]. This film is the consequence of an accumulation process at the metal/solution interface which is not necessarily uniform in time or space. The use of advanced microscopic techniques such us epifluorescence microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (CSLM) or Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) can provide detailed information about biofilm characteristics [4, 5]. SEM,  has permitted to establish different types of adhesion processes and study the connection between microbial adhesion and biocorrosion. ESEM allows observation to be carried out without prior sample dehydration, which is a requirement for the use of traditional SEM.