Analytical Technology for Early Detection of Microbially-Influenced Corrosion Biomarkers

大型流体输送系统(如石油和天然气资产、市政供水系统)依赖于易受腐蚀的金属管道。与腐蚀相关的灾难性故障因土地和水道污染、健康影响、栖息地破坏以及多年的清理工作而登上新闻头条，但成本和收入损失都很高。仅在石油和天然气行业，每年的腐蚀成本估计就高达30-70亿美元。微生物活动可以加速金属表面的侵蚀，在大约20%的管道故障中可以检测到微生物影响的腐蚀(MIC)。通过使用杀生剂以防止生物膜的形成和改进管道设计(例如，减少死腿、昂贵的耐蚀材料)来解决降低MIC的问题。然而，腐蚀通常只能通过目视检查管道外部的小故障和放置在管道内的金属片来检测，这些金属片必须物理移除以进行检查。这些方法在处理过程开始后很长一段时间才能检测到腐蚀，此时需要代价高昂的关闭和更换损坏的基础设施。鉴于MIC在失效中的作用，通过早期检测和治疗以降低微生物活性来预防MIC引起了业界的极大兴趣。然而，降低最低抑菌浓度需要更好的早期检测技术。一个有吸引力的方法是检测低数量的最低抑菌浓度生物标志物作为微生物增加的指标。这样的工具将允许操作员采取行动，理想的做法是暂时增加杀菌剂装载量或清理管道(清管)。我们的解决方案是一种简单、用户友好的技术，可以检测传输线中MIC活性的已知生物标记物。具体地说，我们已经开发了一个原型设备来检测丁二酸苄酯(BSU)，这是一种经基因组学证实的MIC特异性生物的甲苯代谢物。在输油管道和其他工业废水中发现苯、甲苯、乙苯和二甲苯(BTEX)以及苯酚，它们会产生类似的代谢物，可以被我们的设备捕获。我们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一种选择性吸附材料。MIP被涂覆在不锈钢衬底上，便于处理和高样品吞吐量。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)。该原型是加拿大资助的一个大型多方合作伙伴(学术界和业界)资助的大型项目(2022年9月底结束)的一小部分，已被确定具有很高的商业潜力。本提案中描述的工作围绕完成市场研究和制定商业化计划所需的活动展开。

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.