Sterilization of ZnO Nanoparticles and Their Effect on Microbial Corrosion of Stainless Steel

The sterilization of ZnO nanoparticles on sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and the microbial corrosion behavior of 304 stainless steel were investigated by methods of microbial culture and detection, electrochemical measurements and surface analysis. The results show that ZnO nanoparticles could inhibit SRB activity through the contact sterilizing effect and catalytic generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the sterilizing rate increased to 89.3% when the concentration of ZnO nanoparticles increased to 100 mg·L^-1. The sterilizing effect of ZnO nanoparticles on SRB reduced the metabolites of SRB, the microbial film adhered on the surface of stainless steel, then reduced the passive current density of stainless steel, and thereby inhibited the microbial corrosion of stainless steel.