Dr. Recep Avci will be attending a conference on biocorrosion at the Unverisity of Portsmouth later this month. He will be giving two talks on the ICAL's involvement in this research.

Recep Avci to lead MSU portion of $7.5M Multi-University Research Initiative (MURI) project

A new $7.5M Multi-University Research Initiative (MURI) project entitled "Fundamental Research on the Biological Stability of Future Naval Fuels and Implications for the Biocorrosion of Metallic Surfaces" has been funded by the Office of Naval Research. Research Professor and ICAL Director, Recep Avci, will lead the MSU portion ($2M) of the five-year project. The research will explore fundamental scientific issues that lead to new knowledge, understanding and technology for the prediction, diagnosis and mitigation of fuel biodeterioration and biocorrosion problems impacting US Naval operations. The project will explore to what extent the biocorrosion of carbon steel experienced in marine systems can be correlated with anaerobic fuel biodegradation, by addressing such hypotheses as: A) fuel biodeterioration and metal biocorrosion are differentially associated with the development of sulfate-reducing and/or syntrophic hydrocarbon-degrading anaerobic biofilms; B) biofuel formulations have the potential to exacerbate the baseline problem rate, depending on their susceptibility to biodegradation; and C) fuel biodegradation problems can be monitored and interrupted at sensitive stages to prevent spoilage and control biocorrosion. These hypotheses will be investigated by four research teams at four institutions, the University of Oklahoma, Colorado School of Mines, Montana State University and Oklahoma State University, in well-defined technical approaches. The MSU team's role and responsibilities include but are not limited to understanding the effect of key microbial interactions on the biocorrosion of carbon steel: This involves developing a versatile experimental platform employing a wide range of surface imaging and surface analytical techniques that will address the fundamental mechanisms of the anaerobic carbon steel biodeterioration process resulting from the anaerobic biodegradation of fuel in marine systems in the presence of sulfate and under sulfate-depleted conditions, at the nano-, micro- and macro-scales. Our results will complement and contribute to the studies carried out by our collaborators. Our team will focus on two parallel tasks designed to investigate the relationship between fuel biodegradation and biocorrosion, each with a series of specific objectives summarized under two tasks. Task 1 requires the development and employment of smart immunosurfaces (immuno-microarrays) to aid the understanding of early biodegradation/biocorrosion events at the nano- and microscales. Task 2 focuses on the comprehensive use of surface-sensitive methods such as advanced microscopy, spectroscopy , in situ microprobing and surface-sensitive analysis to evaluate the effect of biominerals and metabolites (H2S, S2-, H2) formed during the fuel degradation process on the corrosion of carbon steel at the nano-, micro- and macro-scales. The experimental design developed by the MSU team will facilitate in situ and ex situ observation and sample collection for analysis by our collaborators.

Katelyn Gibbs is a high school student in Great Falls, MT. She recently visited ICAL to conduct research on Yogo Sapphire inclusions. She had several cut and polished gems that contained inclusions or “defects.” Katelyn said "Some people consider them flaws; I consider them a learning tool." The Yogo sapphires are from the Vortex Mine near Utica, MT. At ICAL, we performed XRD on material that surrounded the sapphires and elemental analysis on several inclusions within the cut sapphires. Katelyn had been working with Dr. Baker before he passed away earlier this year. This past week Katelyn came in 2nd place at the Region II Intel Science and Engineering Fair at Montana State University-Great Falls College of Technology. She and four other students will be heading to the International Science and Engineering Fair in San Jose, CA in May. We wish her the best of luck and were happy to help her conduct her research. Click here for more information.

ICAL hosted numerous Industrial Associate visitors attending the Center for Biofilm Engineering's winter conference Feb. 9-10, 2010.  Industrial members were interested in ICAL techniques and services for surface analysis, materials characterization and bacteria/biofilm analytical methods.  Representatives from 3M, Masco, Colgate-Polmolive, BASF/CIBA Specialty Chemicals and Dow Chemical were among the visitors.

ICAL has a new WEBPAGE design that includes some great features. Keep up to date with ICAL activities, news, publications and ongoing research projects!