Studies on <i style="">Aureobasidium pullulans </i>forming biofilm on high strength aluminium alloy, a structural component, in aircraft fuel tanks

Abstract

The present investigation focuses on the effect of <i style="">Aureobasidium pullulans</i> on the behaviour of aluminium alloy.<i style=""> </i>This fuel resident fungal species has been isolated frequently from the contaminated aviation turbine fuel (ATF) alongwith other microorganisms under Indian tropical conditions. This microbial culture was observed to have the ability to produce extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), which help in securing firm adhesion of biogrowth on aluminium alloy forming biofilm ultimately leading to accelerated corrosion. This work reports the characteristics of the biofilm generated, nature of EPS secreted and the ability of <i style="">A. pullulans</i> to influence the surface structure of aluminium alloy due to the presence of corrosion enhancing metabolites and subsequent formation of corrosion products.