A novel method for controlling microbial concrete corrosion in sewers. This project plans to use a newly discovered, low-cost and environmental benign antimicrobial agent to develop an innovative technology to control the development of corrosion-inducing sewer biofilms. Concrete sewer corrosion is a long-standing and costly problem for the water industry. Microbial hydrogen sulfide oxidation on concrete surfaces plays a critical role. The technology will be designed to prevent corrosion of new ....A novel method for controlling microbial concrete corrosion in sewers. This project plans to use a newly discovered, low-cost and environmental benign antimicrobial agent to develop an innovative technology to control the development of corrosion-inducing sewer biofilms. Concrete sewer corrosion is a long-standing and costly problem for the water industry. Microbial hydrogen sulfide oxidation on concrete surfaces plays a critical role. The technology will be designed to prevent corrosion of new concrete sewers by adding a precursor chemical into the cement, or to slow down the corrosion of existing sewers by infrequently (once every one to few years) spraying the precursor chemical directly onto the concrete surface. Potentially, the project will substantially reduce sewer corrosion.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120101604
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Novel role for the universal signalling molecule nitric oxide within biofilm communities and across a biofilm-host interface. Biofilms on wet surfaces and tissues cause major problems by resisting antimicrobials. This project aims at exploiting how natural host response control systems alleviate biofilm build up and can be used to control biofilms in a non-toxic fashion. Countless environmental and clinical applications will benefit from reduced usage of antibiotics.