Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Lecture 25
MIC Electrochemical Aspects and General Mechanisms
Keywords: Electrochemical Aspects, Direct Mechanism, Indirect Mechanism.
Eh and pH are the important environmental parameters controlling the growth and
activity of various aerobic and anaerobic organisms. The stability regions of various
types of microorganisms corresponding to optimum activity can be defined through
Eh pH diagrams. Eh-pH diagram for sulphur water oxygen system wherein the
stability and growth regions of various types of microorganisms are represented will
be useful in the understanding of MIC.
Sulphate reducing
bacteria (SRB) grow under reducing and neutral pH environments. Iron oxidising
heterotrophs are stable and active at neutral pH and higher oxidising conditions.
1
Course Title: Advances in Corrosion Engineering
Course Co-ordinator: Prof. K. A. Natarajan, IISc Bangalore
Eh-pH corrosion diagrams can be readily constructed for various metal-wateroxygen systems in the presence of micro-organisms to predict the regions of MIC,
immunity and passivation. Common Eh-pH diagrams cannot represent the corrosion
behavior of metals and alloys in the presence of micro-organisms. Superimposition
of bacterial stability regions on these diagrams may bring about significant changes
in the regions of corrosion, immunity and passivation. There are instances where
electrochemical prediction of corrosion went astray when microbial activities at the
respective Eh and pH conditions were also considered. Due to microbial growth and
biofilm formation, corrosion and protection regions in such diagrams can shift.
Principal slime forming bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus and
species of Flavobacterium, Aerobacters and Pseudomonas are present in soil
environments. Pseudomonas can grow in systems containing hydrocarbon sources
such as oils and emulsions using hydrocarbons as energy source.
2
Course Title: Advances in Corrosion Engineering
Course Co-ordinator: Prof. K. A. Natarajan, IISc Bangalore
Algae range from single cell plants to multicellular species of diverse forms and
shapes.
chlorophyll. Algae generally grow on moist surfaces such as cooling towers, screens
and distribution systems. Some common algae groups are blue-green algae, the green
algae and the diatoms. Owing to their ability to produce corrosive organic acids,
oxygen and metabolites corrosion can be promoted.
filamentous in form but most of yeast fungi are unicellular. Some corrosion-causing
fungi are Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicilium cyclospium and
Cladosporium resinae. Production of various types of organic acids such as oxalic
acid, citric acid and gluconic acid by fungal metabolism create corrosive
environment.
Anodic:
M = M++ + 2e
Cathodic:
Microorganisms, very often contribute towards corrosion without being solely and
directly responsible for the failure.
involved. Microorganisms can play both direct and indirect roles. In direct attack
mechanisms, the organisms interlinks an electrode reaction (anodic or cathodic)
3
Course Title: Advances in Corrosion Engineering
Course Co-ordinator: Prof. K. A. Natarajan, IISc Bangalore
Typical examples of some of the corrosive metabolic products are illustrated below:
4
Course Title: Advances in Corrosion Engineering
Course Co-ordinator: Prof. K. A. Natarajan, IISc Bangalore
Organic corrosion inhibitors such as diamines and aliphatics are used as nutrients by
bacteria. For example, Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter oxidise ammonia and amines
to nitrite and nitrate, destroying the inhibition properties of several inhibitors. Ferric
oxide coatings are degraded by Pseudomonas, exposing the base metal for corrosion.
Iron sulphide films are broken down by Sulphate Reducing Bacteria. Protective
aluminium oxide layers (passive film) on aluminium and its alloys could be
destroyed by the fungus, C. resinae.
along with their metabolic products and chemical reaction products. It should be
understood that initial stages in biofilm formation invariably involves only bacterial
attachment. Attached and colorized bacterial cells prepare the foundation on which
macroorganisms subsequently attach and grow. Under the circumstances, it becomes
imperative to understand forces and mechanisms of bacterial attachment to metals
and alloys in different environments (water, air and soil).
Attachment of Acidithiobacillus organisms on (A) aluminium (B) mild steel and (C)
stainless steel are illustrated in Fig. 25.2.
Fig. 25.2. Scanning electron micrographs illustrating attachment of Acidithiobacllus sp on (A) aluminium, (B) mild
steel and (C) stainless steel surfaces.
6
Course Title: Advances in Corrosion Engineering
Course Co-ordinator: Prof. K. A. Natarajan, IISc Bangalore
Attachment
of
sulfate
reducing
bacteria
such
as
Desulfovibrio
and
Fig. 25.3 Scanning electron micrographs showing SRB attachment and biofilm formation on titanium surfaces
7
Course Title: Advances in Corrosion Engineering
Course Co-ordinator: Prof. K. A. Natarajan, IISc Bangalore