Graphene is a very useful and powerful material. It consists of a layer of carbon atoms connected by an atom thick. It has been proven to prevent steel from rusting. Soon, it can also be used to prevent bacteria from corroding metal pipes. In sewage treatment facilities such as sewage treatment plants, microorganisms called sulfate-reducing bacteria often parasitize the internal surfaces of pipes and other equipment.
These microorganisms form in the form of so-called "biofilms" within 10 days after the pipes are cleaned and then continue to degrade these pipes in two main ways.
First, microorganisms extract electrons from metal surfaces when they breathe. Then, when bacteria consume organic matter in water, they produce corrosive hydrogen sulfide.
Although protective polymer coatings can be applied inside the pipeline, these coatings themselves may also be degraded when bacteria consume the plasticizer in the pipeline. In addition, over time, such coatings can become brittle and crack, fall off, and eventually enter the water stream.
Given these limitations, Govind Chilkoor, a scientist from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Research, turned to graphene as a coating material. In laboratory tests, he found that even a layer of graphene less than 1 nanometer thick can effectively prevent sulfate-reducing bacteria from attaching to the inner surface of metal pipes. Chilkoor pointed out that graphene has very good antibacterial properties, "it will cause oxidative stress and cause bacterial death."
In addition, considering that graphene is one of the strongest man-made materials, it should be much more durable than the polymers currently used for protective coatings. In addition, since graphene has good thermal conductivity, its performance should be superior to polymers when used in heat exchange pipes.