Development of a functional sol gel coating system via encapsulation of micro-organisms

这项拟议的研究旨在联合收割机结合两种技术的优点，即溶胶-凝胶化学和微生物学。溶胶-凝胶技术现在被认为是一种潜在的替代表面预处理和涂层，是环境不可接受的。这些处理包括致癌的铬酸盐和被确定为有害物质风险（RoHS）的磷酸盐。溶胶-凝胶（硅烷基）涂层无毒，不含Chrome（VI），因此符合环保要求。微生物诱导腐蚀（MIC）是一种加速腐蚀的形式，当特定类型的生物膜被允许在金属表面形成时会导致这种腐蚀。这种有害微生物的积聚被称为生物污垢。在一段时间内，细菌定植导致形成腐蚀性环境，如硫化氢，这导致高度局部腐蚀。控制生物污垢和MIC的最常见方法是向环境中加入杀生物剂或用含有杀生物剂的涂料涂覆结构表面。如果不包含杀生物剂，则存在环境污染的风险。已知某些自然存在的细菌能够降低钢和铜合金等工程金属的腐蚀速率。在这方面，该提议旨在将适当选择的细菌掺入溶胶凝胶涂层内，然后将溶胶凝胶涂层施加到钢和Al合金基材上，以提供以下益处：一个环保无毒的防腐蚀系统。2.一种新的溶胶-凝胶涂层系统，为当前基于生物杀灭剂的防腐蚀系统提供了替代方案。3.一种涂层系统，其自定殖产生位于需要保护的确切位置处的“保护性”细菌，即在生物膜可能发展的敏感表面位置处，特别是在停滞的“低流量”条件下。

The proposed research aims to combine the benefits of two types of technology, namely sol gel chemistry and microbiology.Sol gel technology is now recognised as a potential replacement for surface pre-treatments and coatings that are environmentally unacceptable. Such treatments include chromates which are carcinogenic and phosphates which are identified as a Risk of Hazardous Substance (RoHS). Sol gel (silane-based) coatings are non-toxic and do not contain chrome(VI) and as such are environmentally compliant.Microbial Induced Corrosion (MIC) is a form of accelerated corrosion which results when specific types of biofilm are allowed to form on a metal surface. This build up of unwanted microorganisms is known as biofouling. Over a period of time bacterial colonisation results in the formation of aggressive environments, such as hydrogen sulphide, which lead to highly localised corrosion. The most common approach to controlling biofouling and MIC is to dose the environment with biocides or coat the surfaces of the structure with paints that contain biocides. If the biocides are not contained there is a risk of environmental pollution. Certain naturally occuring bacteria are know to be able to reduce the corrosion rates of engineering metals such as steel and copper alloys. In this respect this proposal aims to incorporate suitably chosen bacteria within a sol gel coating which is then applied to the steel and Al alloy substrates in order to provide the following benefits;1. A corrosion protection system that is environmentally acceptable and non-toxic.2. A new sol-gel coating system that offers an alternative to current biocide-based corrosion protection systems.3. A coating system that self-colonises producing 'protective' bacteria that are located at the exact site requiring protection, namely at susceptible surface sites where a biofilm can develop, especially under stagnant 'low flow ' conditions.