Developed by University of NSW spin-off company Biosignal, the product aims to counter corrosion of oil and gas pipelines and equipment.

Santos and BHP Billiton are funding the research.

A series of new tests at Monash University show Biosignal’s product is non-toxic, unlike other biocides on the market.

The study also found that the new agent worked in small doses, of 20 parts per million – the same concentration as the most commonly used competitor, glutaraldehyde.

“Conventional biocides must be used at high concentrations in order to penetrate established biofilms and even then can be unsuccessful in eliminating tenacious deposits,” Biosignal chief executive Michael Oredsson said.

“If Biosignal can develop an effective, non-toxic, low-dose product, it would be a big service to the oil and gas industry worldwide.”

Monash University now intends to test how effective Biosignal’s anti-biofilm agents are at removing established SRB biofilm. Results are due at the end of next month.

Biosignal recently met with chemical suppliers in the United States at the National Association of Corrosion Engineers convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

“This is the biggest meeting of corrosion engineers worldwide and there was keen interest from these meetings with a number of follow-up discussions planned over the next few months,” Oredsson said.