Fungus Growth Observation on Nanoengineered Superhydrophilic and Superhydrophobic Aluminum Surface

Abstract

Airborne bacteria and fungi becoming serious potential health-risk in indoor environment especially on hospital or healthcare facilities where patient are susceptible from microbial infection. Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system which regulate air circulation on indoor environment has contribution on airborne bacteria and fungi spreading. Microbial attachment to HVAC system will create biofilm which can cause pathogenic and infection to the environment.In this thesis, fungus suspension (Penicillium Implicatum) was inoculated into different type of aluminum surface for seven days. Average spore count per mm2 on each type aluminum surface was calculated for each day. The result then compared to find the effectiveness of antimicrobial surface between industrial aluminum surface and nanoengineered aluminum surface.