The effect of polarization on the attachment of marine bacteria to copper and platinum surfaces

Abstract

Electrochemical polarization of copper and platinum was shown to affect the attachment of two marine bacteria to the surfaces of these metals in seawater. Attachment of both bacteria to copper surfaces was enhanced by polarizing the metal cathodically, whereas attachment was reduced when the copper was anodically polarized. Anodic polarization of platinum also retarded bacterial attachment but overpotentials higher than those for copper were required to produce the same effect. The pH was measured at a distance of 50 μm from the polarized surfaces. Changes in pH at the metal–seawater interface correlated with the attachment of bacteria, and may have influenced bacterial attachment to polarized surfaces.