A novel technique to prevent bacterial fouling, using imposed surface potential

A. KERR, T. HODGKIESS, M.J. COWLING, C.M. BEVERIDGE, M.J. SMITH AND A.C.S. PARR. 1998. The effect of modest imposed surface potentials on the adhesion of marine bacteria to an electrically conducting layer deposited on silica glass is recorded. A positive shift increased bacterial settlement. However, a negative shift in potential was extremely beneficial in reducing numbers of adhered bacteria. An applied surface potential of − 66 mV SCE resulted in the bacterial population decreasing to approximately 12% of that on the uncharged reference sample. There was no further significant decrease in the adhered bacterial population when the magnitude of the negative potential was increased. The potential was maintained with very little current flow (less than 0·25 nA mm−2). The results were not due to any effect of the material used and therefore the technique could be useful for reducing bacterial fouling in many situations, including medical applications.