Evaluation of Microbiological Corrosion THE MANY CASE HISTORIES reported in the literature point out that microbiological cor rosion ean oecur in any aqueous environment. ‘An aqueous environment is defined 48 an) en Fonment that contains even 8 trace amount of twater. For exarmple, (me small amount of Water in Sviation fuel qualifies that environment as aque- bus. Therefore, microbiological corrosion is a potential problem. Because microorganisms are Present in virtually all aqueous systems, they hhave the potential to influence corrosion in any qucous system anywhere in the word "An evaluation of the possibilty for microbio- logical corrosion must be considered 2 part of good engineering practice when planning a neve facility or process. This consideration must in- clude water used for such processes as hydrostal ie testing and water batching even though the final process environment may nol contain Water even in trace amounts. The water used by fabri- fextors 10. hydrostatically test new equipment, flong with the mud and sol in the construction trea, must also be considered sources of mk frobes and associated corrosion problems. Mi- ‘robiological corrosion should be avokded from all of these various sources, because the damage iniiaed by the miecobes may continue as crevice OF under-deposit altack afler the organisms are Killed in a nonaqueous process. There are cut rently no standard tess for determining whether forot the microbes present ata given site will be Involved in initiating or accelerating corrosion Nevertheless, several factors should be consi cred in idenifving the potential for biological corrosion, as discussed below. Use of Historical Data ‘The history of biological corrosion problems withthe intended water source at the proposed Site can provide a great dea! of information re- faring the potential Tor problems. An invest tion at neighboring facilites can also yield val able information, particularly when planning a new installation on an undeveloped site, Because ‘many casev of microbiological corrosion have been misidentified ag erevice or underaleposit corrosion, the investigation should center on the history of these. problems. ‘The investigation Should include problems. associated with mi- {robes in the Water anil in the ground During the investigation, is helpful to have several case histories with photographs of Inicrobiologically fluenced corrosion on hand. Some information ofthis type is available i this John G, Stoecker Il, Monsanto Company Volume in the stiles “General Corrosos the section "General Biological Corrosion”) snd “Localized Corrosion" (see the section "Loca: ized Biological Corrosion") and in the Appendix to the article “Effects of Enviconmenta Varia bles on Aqueous Corrosion." These urtiles also tgantan information onthe mechanisms of micro: biological corrosion and the environmental con ‘ions under sshich it occurs, The section Lo» alized Biological Corrosion"’ mentioned above presents a table listing the industries known to be Affected by microbiological corrosion and anoth- f¢ table showing the microorganisms involved. Considerably more information available in Ref and in the references listed in the articles rentioned above. ‘The investigation ofa water source can include many users if the source is a lange municipal System, The list of users tobe investigated can be educed (0 4 manageable number by selecting ‘those that se tne water '2 manner similar to the Intended use. Similar, in this context, meats a the same temperature and pH, because the vat ‘ous microbes ate generally active and treuble- some only between specific temperatures. and anges of pH. Microbes seem to be the most Uuoublesome t temperatures equivalent to the temperature of the human body and at pH 7, but there are cases in which they have created prob- lems at extremes of both temperature and pH. TW should be noted that @ fllerreated andlor chlorinated water source does not eliminate the potential for mictobiolosically influenced corre: Sion. Chlorination isnot totally effective in elim inating all microbes from water, and it has been shown that several species use chlorides for tnetabolic purposes after the free chlorine has beea reted, In addition, microbiological activi ty isa persisient problem in ultrapure deionized Water in which extremely fine filters are used: this proves that fltration will aot remove all microbes Or eliminate the problems they may cause. Addi tonal information on the control of eliiation of microbes in waters can be found in the article "Control of Eaviroamental Variables in Water Recirclating Systems” in this Volume Testing for Microbiological Activity ‘The water source and soi atthe proposed vite shouldbe tested for microbiologieal tivity These tests shouldbe conducted under the direc tion of 8 microbiologist who has experience in microbiologicsllyinfuenced corrosion. Feld test, kits are currently available that employ an ant body tagging technique to idemtily and facilitate the determination of the population of trouble- some microbes, as described in Ref 2 and 3 Chemical Analysis Chemical analysis of the water souree and the soil tthe site is helpfl in determining whether the critical nutrients and energy sources neces Sty {@ Support microbiological ativity are pre Sent. For example. the presence or absence in the environment of suifur and its compounds to sp port the growth of sulfate-reducing or sulfur Dxidizing bacteria can be determined by chemical analysis. Chemial anslysis should be used with Caution, however, because the availabilty of rubienls is aot 8 totally controlling factor in microbiological activity. Microbes are adaptable and can use both organic and inorganic sources for energy (Ref 4), Moreover, growth of «harm les. bacterial species ean sometimes result in production of a autrient. not present inthe am Bient environment, that will allow the damaging species to Mluorish at a later time. In addition, ‘microbiological activity is a major problem on filters in ultrapure deionized water, in which faulrients would seem to be rather scarce Corrosion Testing ‘The preceding discussion has dealt with deter- mining the potential fr microbiological corrosion problems ata new and undeveloped site where Uulity services are not avalable- Ata developed site where energy soiree sich as electricity and Steam are available, corrosion testing can Be a ‘valuable tol for assessing the polenta fr Tutte Problems or analyzing 2 present corrosion prob Tem to determine if biological activity iy involved (et 5, 1). Uiliies are usually required vo design tests so thatthe envizoamental condiions of the intended process can be reproduced as closely 3s possible. ‘There are no standard tests designed spt cally for investigating susceptbiiy to microbio Togical corresion. The presence of microon nisms in an environment, however, does A9! Introduce some new type of corrosion, but rather influences the types of corrosion that ate already knowin, Therefore, ifthe types of corrosion that riven material of construction is susceptible to face known, the standard test methods for tose types fapecified elsewhere in this Volume) casFigs 11055" Soure: Ret 7 ‘often be holpful—if supplemented with the prop- fr biological techniques for the organisms i volved. ‘AS with most corrasioa testing, the environ mental conditions im the test vessels must match those in the proposed process in order to obisin ‘ald resulls. Coupom and test probe procedures {described elsewhere in this Volume) should not be used o determine and/or contirm the potential for microbiological corrosion without the benefits of microbiological analysis. Laboratory testing is not recommended, because « population of mixed Species i extremely dificult to maintain inthis type of seting. ‘The corrosion tests will yeld some very unusu- al results the damage was microbiclogically Influenced. The damage will almost always be localized in the form of a pit (Fig. 1), whether under a deposit, tubercule, or seal; in a crevice: or acatly surrounded by a stain on the metal Surface. In addition, there is usually » peculiar color associated with the damage Por example, the deposits, tubercules, and ‘tains assouiated wit the damage on carbon and stainless steel will usually be reddish brown. ‘The pit ina copper alloy under scale will usually bbe vivid grea. Blsek spots of ion sulle wil ‘ually be present in association wih the damage ‘where sulfate reducing bacteria are involved. A ow drops of hydrochloric acid on these black spots Will produce the pungent odor of hydrogen Slide usa test for sulfur inthis case ‘Chemical analysis of the residue associated with the damage will usualy show a depletion of iton and nickel and an increase inthe concent: ‘ton of chromium and copper as compared tothe norma levels in the hase material. Usual levels of chlorine, sulfur, manganese and other tramp ele- ‘ments may also be present inthe residue Evaluation of Microbiological Corrosion / 315 o Risk Analysis A risk analysis shouldbe performed based on the information collected according to the preceding ‘outline. The information gathered from the case histories of the water nd neighboring sites, along with the corosion test resulis, should receive the heaviest weighting in this analysis. Much of the work that has been done to ascess the risk of microbiological cortosion in sils and ia North Sea ‘ll pipeline environments is suramaized in the tuticle "Localized Corrosion’ inthis Volume. ‘Actual experiences are better suited t0 uncov- ering problems caused by dormant spores that have Become active than are field microbiological tind chemical tests. For example, spares that have been dormat for centuries have been found in the permafrost of Antarctica. ‘These spores reed only the proper environment to become active, a6 in the ease with ei felities in the "Nozth Sea and arctic Ocean ‘With this in-mind, 2 safe, conservative ap- proach during the Fisk analysis is a food policy Ta this context, a safe, conservative approach {involves the pessimistic view that ricrohiolng cal corrosion will be a problem when definite fics amd data fre not vafable. ACKal mechs for reducing the potential for microbiological corrosion are covered inthe aftiles "Localized Corrosion’ and "Control of Environmental Var fables in Water Recirculating Systems" in Volume Summary Sever ficlors tha shold be considered in idenyng the potential for bloga! coeosion hove heen prevented shoal be ned ht the ba lately new end anexporedcomosion Intergranslr cvrsio n «type 304 soil ste otacatad with o typical pit end micrbilogieal deport. (2) View at 100%. () Higher mognfiation view ot Phenomenon for industry. Because itis a new field of study, the knowledge concerning itis expanding very rapidly: this makes the numbered feferences inthis article exteme'y important as Sources of detailed, current information, REFERENCES 1. .G. Stoecker and D.H. Pope, Microbistog cally Influenced Corrosion. in Process Indus- tries Corrosion—The Theory and Practice. Nix tional Association of Corrosion Engineers, 1986, p 227-241 D.H. Pope, Discussion of Methods for the Detection of Microorganisms Involved in Microbiologicaly Influenced Corresio. in Bie ‘logically Induced Corrosion Proceedings of the International Conference, National Asso lation of Corrosion Engineers, 1986, p 275 3. DAHL Pope, “The Work of MTL-TAC Commit tee 36 on Mierebiologicaly Influenced Corro- sion Test Kits,” Materials Technology Inst tute of the Chemical Process Industries, to be published 4, 1.G. Stovcker, Guide for the Investigation of Microbiologically Induced Corrosion, Mate. Perform, Wol 23 (No. 8), Avs 1988, p48 5. RE. Tainall, Fundamentals of Bacteria In diced Corrosion, Mater. Perform... Vol 20 (Wo. 9), Sept 1981, p32 6. RAE, Tatnall, “Experimental Methods ia Biocorrosion, in Biologically Induced Corr sion—Proceedings of the International Con ference, National Association of Corrosion Engineers, 1986, p 246, 7. JG. Stoecker and DM, Pope, Study of Bio. logical Corrosion in High’ “Temperature Demineralized Water, Mater. Perform, Vol 25 (No. 6), June 1986, p 51-55