A STUDY ON MICROBE-METAL INTERACTION: ALUMINIUM ALLOY (6061) AND Bacillus cereus IN SIMULATED MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Metals in the marine environment is a lingering with the substantial calamity that poses serious environmental and safety hazards. Electrochemical and chemical interactions cause the gradual decaying of metals’ exteriors and interiors. Marine microorganisms interact with metal and degrade it. Microbial corrosion is a special type of metal corrosion in which microbes act on metals. Microbes use different mechanisms to interact with metal and metalloids present in the environment. Few trace elements are required for their metabolism and absorb these metal ions present in a natural and synthetic environment. Some metal plays an important role in the physiological functions of an organism but if it is in excess may cause toxicity. In the present article, the interaction of Aluminum Alloy (AA) 6061 with Bacillus sp in a 3.5% NaCl (W/V) solution has been reported. The interaction study was performed under static and dynamic conditions for 4 weeks and 2 weeks respectively. Weight loss of the metal coupons was performed regularly. Microbial load in both conditions was checked by doing a viability cell count to ensure metal toxicity. Scanning Electron Microscope observation was done for biofilm formation on metal coupons.