Biotechnology For Rust Free Iron Metal Surface

India is spending about 1.25 lakh crore rupees to protect iron structure from rust every year. The USA is spending about 12 lakh crore rupees every year for the same purpose. Generally, iron suface is protected by applying a special paint coating at regular intervals. This method of protection involves more chemicals and most of them are toxic in nature which cause several environmental hazards. Therefore, a preliminary study was under taken to find out the possibility of involving biotechnological method(s) to remove iron rust and protect the metal from further rust formation. A fungal-based technique was developed through which aerosol particulate matter was generated. A set of rusty iron mesh (1mm) was exposed to the aerosol particulate matter for a period of time. The rusty iron mesh which not exposed to the aerosol particulate was kept as control. The result revealed that the rust on rusty metals was removed (derusted) and the metal surface became brilliant white due to the deposition of aerosol particles, which inturn protected the metal from rust formation for about fifteen years in natural condition, However, the control metal lost its original shape and structure gradually by deterioration. As this new biological method offers a long-term solution for rust problem it can be tried in a big way.