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  6. Biodeterioration and Reference Organisms

Materials must serve their purpose safely and reliably over long periods of time. Wherever materials meet the living environment is where the Biodeterioration and Reference Organisms division engages its research. We investigate changes to materials after exposure to biological processes, determine the effectiveness of material preservative (biocides) and the development of resistance against these biocides using current and newly developed testing methods.

We are particularly interested in how bacteria, archaea, fungi and insects degrade and corrode materials such as wood, plastics, metals or textiles, or the effects that they have on diesel, paints, lubricants and material surfaces. We identify organisms that damage materials and characterise them using traditional or modern microscopic and molecular biological methods. We provide our clients with selected reference organisms for material degradation via the BAM webshop.

Further Information

  • Fields of expertise

    • Biocide resistance
    • Biocorrosion (microbiologically influenced corrosion)
    • Bio-Deterioration
    • Cultivation of algae, cyanobacteria, bacteria, fungi and insects involved in deterioration and degradation of materials
    • Testing of effectiveness of biocides to protect materials
    • Biocide analysis
    • Molecular biology of microorganisms from extreme conditions (halophilic bacteria, rock-based fungi) and microorganisms capable of destroying materials
    • Molecular biological characterisation of insects capable of destroying materials
    • Isolation and characterisation of microorganisms capable of destroying materials and resisting stress
    • Biological pest control in material protection

  • Main activities

    • Investigating environmental factors leading to biocide resistance of surface-associated bacteria
    • Biocorrosion of metals mediated by methanogenic archaea
    • Detection of microbial contamination in fuels
    • Development of methods to assess colonisation on and degradability of materials
    • Detection and leachability of biocides from materials
    • International harmonisation/standardization of methods

  • Range of services/technical equipment

    • Microscopic analysis of microorganisms on surfaces, including biofilms
    • Aerobic and anaerobic cultivation of microorganisms
    • Isothermal amplification of DNA in fuels for the detection of microbial contamination
    • Biological investigations into organisms with material-damaging properties
    • Reference organisms
    • Analysis of biocides in materials and protective agents
    • Effectiveness tests of material protection agents as required for registration on the European market
    • Laboratories for investigations (inclusive of genetic engineering research) of organisms of low pathogenic risk to humans (S1/S2)
    • Field study site for open exposure experiments, including on-site weather station
    • Fungus cellar with soil beds

  • Publications of the division

    In the database PUBLICA you will find publications by BAM employees.

    Publications of the division Biodeterioration and Reference Organisms in PUBLICA

    PUBLICA

Priv.-Doz. Dr. rer. nat. Hans-Jörg Kunte, Head of Division Biodeterioration and Reference Organisms, Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM)

Contact Priv.-Doz. Dr. rer. nat. Hans-Jörg Kunte

Head of Division 4.1

Headquarters

Phone +49 30 8104-1410

Email