Degradation transmission electron microscope

Southam et al. [54] studied the effect of biosurfactants on the biodegradation of waste hydrocarbons. To degrade hydrocarbons, bacteria must adsorb onto the surfactant-oil interface of 25-50 nm in thickness. Approximately 1% of all the biosurfactant was needed to emulsify the oil. This type of studying with a transmission electron microscope showed that the microorganisms were able to uptake nanometre-sized oil droplets during growth. More of this type of research is required to determine the mechanism of hydrocarbon metabolism and biosurfactant applications. 

The picture of cement microstructure that now emerges is of particles of partially degraded glass embedded in a matrix of calcium and aluminium polyalkenoates and sheathed in a layer of siliceous gel probably formed just outside the particle boundary. This structure (shown in Figure 5.17) was first proposed by Wilson Prosser (1982, 1984) and has since been confirmed by recent electron microscopic studies by Swift Dogan (1990) and Hatton Brook (1992). The latter used transmission electron microscopy with high resolution to confirm this model without ambiguity. 

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