• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.3726-3729
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• 2011

Biofilm formation is inevitable in a bioelectrochemical system in which microorganisms act as a sole biocatalyst. Cathodic biofilm (CBF) works as a double-edged sword in the performance of the air-cathode microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Proton and oxygen crossover through the CBF are limited by the robust structure of extracellular polymeric substances, composition of available constituents and environmental condition from which the biofilm is formed. The MFC performance in terms of power, current and coulombic efficiency is influenced by the nature and origin of CBF. Development of CBF from different ecological environment while keeping the same anode inoculums, contributes additional charge transfer resistance to the total internal resistance, with increase in coulombic efficiency at the expense of power reduction. This study demonstrates that MFC operation conditions need to be optimized on the choice of initial inoculum medium that leads to the biofilm formation on the air cathode.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.1221-1228
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• 2005

Carbon electrode was applied to a wastewater treatment system as biofilm media. The spatial distribution of heterotrophic bacteria in aerobic wastewater biofilm grown on carbon electrode was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and biomass measurement. Five volts of electric oxidation and reduction potential were charged to the carbon anode and cathode of the bioelectrochemical system, respectively, but were not charged to electrodes of a conventional system. To correlate the biofilm architecture of bacterial populations with their activity, the bacterial treatment efficiency of organic carbons was measured in the bioelectrochemical system and compared with that in the conventional system. In the SEM image, the biofilm on the anodic medium of the bioelectrochemical system looked intact and active; however, that on the carbon medium of the conventional system appeared to be shrinking or damaging. In the AFM image, the thickness of biofilm formed on the carbon medium was about two times of those on the anodic medium. The bacterial treatment efficiency of organic carbons in the bioelectrochemical system was about 1.5 times higher than that in the conventional system. Some denitrifying bacteria can metabolically oxidize $H_{2}$, coupled to reduction of $NO_{3}^{-}\;to\;N_{2}$. $H_{2}$ was produced from the cathode in the bioelectrochemical system by electrolysis of water but was not so in the conventional system. The denitrification efficiency was less than $22\%$ in the conventional system and more than $77\%$ in the bioelectrochemical system. From these results, we found that the electrochemical coupling reactions between aerobic and anaerobic reactors may be a useful tool for improvement of wastewater treatment and denitrification efficiency, without special manipulations such as bacterial growth condition control, C/N ratio (the ratio of carbon to nitrogen) control, MLSS returning, or biofilm refreshing.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.5
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• pp.219-224
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• 2003

Crevice corrosion of stainless steels in natural seawater was investigated for several post weld treatments; as-annealed, as-welded, pickled, and ground. The results confirmed the effect of the biofilm on the cathodic reaction leading to an ennoblement of the rest potential. The degree of ennoblement of corrosion potential depends on the surface finish. As-annealed and pickled samples show stable corrosion potential approaching to 200 ~ 300 mV (SCE) while as-welded and ground samples show the fluctuating corrosion potential. This points to a situation where there are conflicting effects determining the trend in free corrosion potential. Crevice corrosion initiation will tend to pull the free corrosion potential in the active direction, whereas the presence of biofilm will tend to ennoble corrosion potential. There was no visible attack on UNS S31803, S32550, and 2205W. Therefore, those stainless steel grades appeared to be resistant to crevice corrosion in natural seawater on condition of weld metal.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2018

The aims of this study were to determine the corrosion behavior of pure copper in the presence of Desulfovibrio sp. and also to investigate the effects of glutaraldehyde (GD) and isothiazolinone (ISO) on the corrosion behavior of pure copper in the presence of this sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) strain by using electrochemical techniques. Electrochemical measurements of pure copper were carried out at specified time intervals (0, 8, 24, 48, and 96 hr) over a period of exposure. Corrosion rates of pure copper from anodic and cathodic Tafel slopes and corrosion potential ($E_{corr}$) were determined. Biofilm and corrosion products on the copper surfaces were observed by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (EDS) analyses. The effects of solution types (PC (Postgate's C medium) and SRB (Desulfovibrio sp.)) and exposure times of copper and biocides (ISO or GD) on the corrosion rates of pure copper were evaluated by statistical analyses. As a result of the FESEM analysis, biofilm formation was observed on the surfaces of pure copper exposed to the Desulfovibrio sp. cultures both with and without the biocides. The results show that the pure copper was corroded by Desulfovibrio sp. However, the addition of GD or ISO to the Desulfovibrio sp. culture resulted in a decrease in the corrosion rate of the pure copper. It was also observed that both of the biocides showed a similar effect on pure copper's corrosion rate caused by Desulfovibrio sp.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.3 no.5
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• pp.187-193
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• 2004

We have investigated the differences between the general corrosion and microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of steels in terms of electrochemical behavior and surface phenomena. Corrosion potential of steels in the absence of SRB (sulfate-reducing bacteria) shifted to a low level and was maintained throughout the experimental period (40 days). The potential in the presence of SRB, however, shifted to a noble level after 20 days' incubation, indicating the growth of SRB biofilms on the test metal specimens and a formation of corrosion products. In addition, the color of medium inoculated with SRB changed from gray to black. The color change appeared to be caused by the formation of pyrites (FeS) as a corrosion product while no significant color change was observed in the medium without SRB inoculation. Moreover, corrosion rates of various steels tested for MIC were higher than those in the absence of SRB. This is probably because SRB were associated with the increasing corrosion rates through increasing cathodic reactions which caused reduction of sulfate to sulfide as well as formation of an oxygen concentration cell. The pitting corrosions were also observed in the SRB-inoculated medium.