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Biomachining
Biomachining is the machining process of using lithotropic bacteria to remove material from metal parts, contrasted with chemical machining methods such as chemical milling and physical machining methods such as milling. Certain bacteria, such as Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and Thiobacillus thiooxidans, which are also used in the mineral refinement process of bioleaching, utilize the chemical energy from oxidation of iron or copper to fix carbon dioxide from the air.
A metal object, when placed in a culture fluid containing these metal-metabolizing bacteria, will have material removed from its surface over time. Biomachining is ideal for micromachining due to its very low material removal rate. The part is then dipped into a bath of culture fluid, which is kept at a precise temperature and stirred throughout the process.
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