Perth Laboratory – Public Seminar Series 2010

Application of GC–MS metabolic profiling to ‘blue-green water’ from microbial influenced corrosion in copper pipes

Mr David Beale,
CSIRO Land and Water

*Monday 2 August 2010 at 3:30 pm, CSIRO Auditorium

Abstract
The influence of electrochemical processes by biofilms is a well documented phenomenon, which occurs on metallic surfaces exposed to the environment. In general, these interactions lead to the degradation (or corrosion) of the metals, in a process referred to as bio-corrosion or microbially influenced corrosion (MIC). Biofilms typically consist of microbial cells and their metabolites, which include extracellular polymers, as well as inorganic precipitates. Although copper is traditionally viewed as an antimicrobial material, MIC of copper is well documented. Blue-green water (BGW), also known as blue water, is a complex phenomenon associated with the corrosion of copper pipes in water distribution systems and building plumbing.

In this research we considered a novel application of fluorescence spectroscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) to water samples which were exposed to copper piping, which had undergone some degree of MIC. Using three dimensional excitation/emission matrix (3DEEM) fluorescence spectroscopy, we were able to observe the ‘protein- like’ fluorophore associated with presence of bacteria, and subsequently cross reference this with derivatized metabolites determined via GC–MS analyses of the same sample. This methodology can be used as a simple screening tool to (a) establish the presence or otherwise of microbial processes in waters, & (b) correlate specific metabolite profiles with different microbes for enhanced utility of this tool to identify the onset of MIC in water supply infrastructure.

About the speaker
David Beale is a research project officer with CSIRO Land and Water specialising in sustainability based asset management and condition assessment techniques for water utility assets. He joined CSIRO in 2008 after submitting a thesis, Development of a portable instrument for the determination of pesticide residue in natural waters, at RMIT University (final submission in 2009, currently awaiting graduation). He has a strong background in analytical chemistry, in particular determination of pesticide residues in aqueous samples by GC-MS/NPD/FID, HPLC-UV, and FIA-CL.

Mr Beale has worked as a climate change consultant for businesses required to report under the national greenhouse and energy reporting act (NGER 2007). His primary role was to establish the reporting boundaries and determine the carbon equivalence emitted, as well as identify opportunities for carbon (eq.) and energy mitigation.

*This seminar is scheduled for a Monday instead of the usual Thursday

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