Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Methods for Characterizing the Co-development of Biofilm and Habitat Heterogeneity
Published on: March 11, 2015
Microbial diversity in biofilms from corroding heating systems
B V Kjellerup1, T R Thomsen, J L Nielsen
1Danish Technological Institute, Centre for Chemistry and Water Technology, Arhus C., Denmark.
Abstract:
Culture-independent investigations of the bacterial diversity and activity in district heating systems with and without corrosion did not make it possible to relate one group of microorganisms with the observed corrosion. Fluorescence in situ hybridization by oligonucleotide probes revealed the dominance of beta-proteobacteria, sulphate reducing prokaryotes and alpha-proteobacteria. Analysis of a clone library from one Danish heating (DH) system showed that the most sequences formed two clusters within the alpha-proteobacteria affiliated to the families Rhizobiaceae and Acetobacteraceae and two clusters within the beta-proteobacteria belonging to the family Comamonadaceae. Functional groups were determined by microautoradiography showing aerobic and anaerobic bacteria (sulphate reducing and methanogenic bacteria). The corrosion study showed that pitting corrosion rates were five to ten times higher than the general corrosion rates, suggesting the presence of biocorrosion. The results indicate that several bacterial groups could be involved in corrosion of DH system piping including sulphate reducing prokaryotes, Acidovorax (within the beta-proteobacteria), methanogenic bacteria and others.
More Related Videos
09:45A New Method for Qualitative Multi-scale Analysis of Bacterial Biofilms on Filamentous Fungal Colonies Using Confocal and Electron Microscopy
Published on: January 25, 2017
07:09Use of a High-throughput In Vitro Microfluidic System to Develop Oral Multi-species Biofilms
Published on: December 1, 2014
Related Concept Videos
Microbial Corrosion
Microbial Mats
Biofilms
Microenvironments
Microbial Wastewater Treatment
Diversity of Archaea III