Metal surfaces are highly vulnerable to corrosion, and so maintaining them is pretty expensive — paint or other protective coatings are a regular expenditure for maintaining metal parts used in housings and other products. Here is an alternative solution to this, which can easily paintings and coatings – bacteria, a new form of protection.
An organism called Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 (hereinafter MR-1) is eble to protect a number of metals. The organism MR-1 can remarkably incorporate metal into its metabolism. It inhales certain metal oxides and compounds in one form, and exhales them in another form, preventing the metals from corrosion.
Analyzing the ability of an organism, Ersa Kus, the Viterbi School post-doctoral researcher said that though the MR1 itself may not be the metal protector of the future, it may well suggest an agent that can be protective.
The team will present the research on October 29-November 3, 2006at the 210th Meeting of The Electrochemical Society in Cancun, Mexico.
Via: Physorg
