Use of a method of concentrating microorganisms in an electric field in the search for life in Mars
Imshenetskiĭ, A.A.; Murzakov, B.G.; Dorofeeva, I.K.
Mikrobiologiia 52(1): 140-144
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0026-3656 PMID: 6843383 Document Number: 200643
The paper describes a technique of concentrating microorganisms from filtrates obtained from mixtures of the Martian ground analogs and desert soil using electroretention on polarizable carriers (sterilized cotton wool or gauze). The degree of retention can reach 99.9% at a field intensity of 50 V/cm and a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min. A high concentration of microorganisms in a suspension can be reached when the current is switched off and a small volume of the fresh nutrient medium is passed through the suspension.