Analytical Technology for Early Detection of Microbially-Influenced Corrosion Biomarkers

大型流体传输系统（例如，石油和天然气资产、市政配水系统）依赖于易受腐蚀的金属管道。灾难性的腐蚀相关故障成为头条新闻，污染土地和水道，健康影响，栖息地破坏，以及长达数年的清理工作，成本高，收入损失。仅在石油和天然气行业，每年的腐蚀成本估计为30 - 70亿美元。微生物活动会加速金属表面的腐蚀，并且在大约20%的管道故障中检测到微生物影响的腐蚀（MIC）。通过使用杀生物剂来防止生物膜的形成和改进的管道设计（例如，盲管段减少、昂贵的耐腐蚀材料）。然而，腐蚀通常仅通过目视检查管道外部的小故障和放置在管道内的金属试样来检测，所述金属试样必须被物理移除以进行检查。这些方法在工艺开始后很久才检测到腐蚀，此时处理需要昂贵的停机和更换损坏的基础设施。鉴于MIC在失败中的作用，通过早期检测和治疗以减少微生物活性来预防MIC的工业具有显著的兴趣。然而，MIC的降低需要更好的早期检测技术，一种有吸引力的方法是检测少量的MIC生物标志物作为微生物增加的指标。这些工具将允许操作员采取行动，理想情况下，通过临时增加杀菌剂加载或清洁管道（清管）。我们的解决方案是一种简单的用户友好的技术，用于检测传输线路中MIC活性的已知生物标志物。具体而言，我们已经开发了一种原型装置，用于检测琥珀酸苄酯（BSu），这是一种经基因组学确认的MIC特异性生物体的确认甲苯代谢物。石油管道和其他工业废水流中存在苯、甲苯、二甲苯和二甲苯（BTEX）以及酚类，它们会产生类似的代谢物，这些代谢物可以被我们的设备捕获。我们的设备的独特之处在于定制的多孔分子印迹聚合物（MIP），这是我们在实验室设计和制造的选择性吸附材料。MIP涂覆在不锈钢基底上，便于操作和高样品通量。使用BSu-MIP开发的分析方法提供了早期检测MIC活性所需的低检测限（=ng/mL）。该原型开发作为一个大型多合作伙伴（学术-工业）加拿大基因组资助项目（2022年9月结束）的一小部分，已被确定为具有很高的商业潜力。本提案中描述的工作主要围绕完成市场研究和制定商业化计划所需的活动。

Large-scale fluid transmission systems (e.g., oil and gas assets, municipal water distribution systems) rely on metal pipelines susceptible to corrosion. Catastrophic corrosion-related failures make headlines with contamination of land and waterways, health effects, habitat damage, and years-long clean-up efforts with high costs and revenue losses. In the oil and gas industry alone the cost of corrosion is estimated at $3-7B per year. Microbial activity can accelerate attack of metal surfaces and microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) is detected in approximately 20% of pipeline failures. Reduction of MIC is addressed through the use of biocides to prevent the formation of biofilms and improved pipeline design (e.g., dead-leg reduction, expensive corrosion-resistant materials). However, corrosion is usually only detected through visual inspection of the outside of pipelines for small failures and of metal coupons placed inside pipelines that must be physically removed for inspection. These methods detect corrosion long after the process has begun when treatment requires costly shutdowns and replacement of damaged infrastructure. Given the role of MIC in failure, there is significant interest from industry prevention of MIC by early detection and treatment to reduce the microbial activity. However, MIC reduction requires much better technology for early detection.One attractive approach is to detect low quantities of MIC biomarkers as indicators for increased microbial. Such tools would allow operators to act, ideally by temporarily increasing biocide loading or cleaning pipes (pigging). Our solution is a simple user-friendly technique to detect known biomarkers of MIC activity in transmission lines. Specifically, we have developed a prototype device to detect benzyl succinate (BSu) a confirmed toluene metabolite of MIC-specific organisms confirmed by genomics. Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX), and phenols are found in oil pipelines, and other industrial wastewater streams and produce similar metabolites that can be captured by our device. The unique feature of our device is the tailor-made porous molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP), which is a selective sorbent material we design and fabricate in our lab. The MIP is coated on a stainless-steel substrate that allows for easy handling and high sample throughput. Analytical methods developed using BSu-MIPs provide low detection limits necessary for early detection of MIC activity (=ng/mL). The prototype developed as a small part of a large multi-partner (academic-industry) Genome Canada-funded project (ends 09/2022), has been identified as having high commercial potential. The work described in this proposal is centered around activities required to complete market research and develop a commercialization plan.