Biofilm activity on corrosion of API 5L X65 steel weld bead

The Role of Metallurgical Features in the Microbially Influenced Corrosion of Carbon Steel: A Critical Review

Microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) is a potentially critical degradation mechanism for a wide range of materials exposed to environments that contain relevant microorganisms. The likelihood and rate of MIC are affected by microbiological, chemical, and metallurgical factors; hence, the understanding of the mechanisms involved, verification of the presence of MIC, and the development of mitigation methods require a multidisciplinary approach. Much of the recent focus in MIC research has been on the microbiological and chemical aspects, with less attention given to metallurgical attributes. Here, we address this knowledge gap by providing a critical synthesis of the literature on the metallurgical aspects of MIC of carbon steel, a material frequently associated with MIC failures and widely used in construction and infrastructure globally. The article begins by introducing the process of MIC, then progresses to explore the complexities of various metallurgical factors relevant to MIC in carbon steel. These factors include chemical composition, grain size, grain boundaries, microstructural phases, inclusions, and welds, highlighting their potential influence on MIC processes. This review systematically presents key discoveries, trends, and the limitations of prior research, offering some novel insights into the impact of metallurgical factors on MIC, particularly for the benefit of those already familiar with other aspects of MIC. The article concludes with recommendations for documenting metallurgical data in MIC research. An appreciation of relevant metallurgical attributes is essential for a critical assessment of a material's vulnerability to MIC to advance research practices and to broaden the collective knowledge in this rapidly evolving area of study.

Microbiologically influenced corrosion-more than just microorganisms

Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is a phenomenon of increasing concern that affects various materials and sectors of society. MIC describes the effects, often negative, that a material can experience due to the presence of microorganisms. Unfortunately, although several research groups and industrial actors worldwide have already addressed MIC, discussions are fragmented, while information sharing and willingness to reach out to other disciplines are limited. A truly interdisciplinary approach, which would be logical for this material/biology/chemistry-related challenge, is rarely taken. In this review, we highlight critical non-biological aspects of MIC that can sometimes be overlooked by microbiologists working on MIC but are highly relevant for an overall understanding of this phenomenon. Here, we identify gaps, methods, and approaches to help solve MIC-related challenges, with an emphasis on the MIC of metals. We also discuss the application of existing tools and approaches for managing MIC and propose ideas to promote an improved understanding of MIC. Furthermore, we highlight areas where the insights and expertise of microbiologists are needed to help progress this field.

Corrosion Behavior on 20# Pipeline Steel by Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria in Simulated NaCl Alkali/Surfactant/Polymer Produced Solution

The corrosion behavior of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) on 20# carbon steel in the NaCl alkali-surfactant-polymer (ASP) flooding system was studied by scanning electron microscopy, electrochemical measurement, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and laser confocal microscopy. The results showed that the presence of SRB results in a large viscosity loss of the system. SRB can use hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) as a nutrient to grow, and the number of SRB remained at a high level after 15 days. Weight loss and electrochemical tests indicated that SRB promoted corrosion of pipeline steel. The corrosion of carbon steel in the early stage of immersion was inhibited by the biofilm formed on the surface, and the thick biofilm in the later stage of immersion caused serious pitting corrosion. The localized corrosion caused by SRB was not inhibited by HPAM and sodium petroleum sulfonate (surfactant) adsorbed on the surface.

SRB-mediated corrosion of marine submerged AISI 1020 steel under impressed current cathodic protection

Metallic corrosion is a recurrent and costly problem to almost every industry; therefore, prevention strategies might be well-defined on a case-by-case basis. Commonly, cathodic protection (CP) is the world's most widely-adopted technique to guarantee the integrity of buried or submerged structures from corrosion. However, as current potential values are dependent on metal-structure and environmental features, the target shall be well-identified; otherwise, the intended effect will not be reached. In seawater, a protective current potential of -800 mV_Ag/AgCl is recommended by technical standards, while a more negative potential (-900 mV_Ag/AgCl) is the suggested criterion for the control of corrosion induced by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), even though without proper scientific support. Thus, this study focused on evaluating the efficiency of different cathodic protection potentials (-800, -900 and, -1000 mV_Ag/AgCl) on inhibiting SRB-mediated corrosion of AISI 1020 steel. Both unprotected and impressed current cathodically protected steel specimens were exposed to indigenous microorganisms in seawater for 7 days. The Most Probable Number (MPN) enumeration of sessile aerobic heterotrophic bacteria, acid-producing bacteria and, sulfate-reducing bacteria was performed at the beginning and at the end of the assays. Also, the reducing activity of hydrogenase-positive SRB strains was measured. Although the microbial colonization was greater on unprotected steel surfaces than on the cathodically protected ones, biofilm quantification of CP specimens did not show important differences regardless of the potential. However, hydrogenase-positive SRB counts increased with the reduction of CP potential value, promoting an increase in the number and depth of pits on specimens protected at -1000 mV_Ag/AgCl when compared with those protected at -800 mV_Ag/AgCl and unprotected ones.

Microbial corrosion of initial perforation on abandoned pipelines in wet soil containing sulfate-reducing bacteria

In this work, the microbial corrosion inside a perforation on an X52 pipeline steel was investigated in wet soil containing sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) by biotesting, electrochemical measurements, including open-circuit potential, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization, and surface analysis techniques such as 3D topographic imaging, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray spectrum. Results show that the further corrosion rate of the initial perforation on pipelines is not uniform along its depth direction, and the corrosion kinetics depends on the availability of microorganism such as SRB in the environment. In abiotic environments, the perforation close to the solution side corrodes more rapidly than that at the soil side. However, in SRB-containing environments, the corrosion kinetics is different, where the middle of perforation possesses the greatest corrosion rate, which is attributed to the microbially accelerated corrosion. There are generally more sessile SRB cell counts on the steel near the solution phase than that at the soil side. The corrosion of the perforation could be attributed to the high counts of sessile SRB cells and their starvation effect, making the SRB extract electrons directly from the steel.

Distinct Profiles in Microbial Diversity on Carbon Steel and Different Welds in Simulated Marine Microcosm

The main studies on the corrosion of metals induced by microorganisms are directed only to the surface of the metal, without considering the presence of welds between these surfaces. For this reason, we evaluated the difference of microbial community grown in carbon steel coupons, and two different types of welds, E7018 and Tungsten electrodes, exposed under simulated microcosm. After 30 days, they were recovered, the biofilms scraped and the microbial communities analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The results showed that there was a differentiated distribution among the three samples collected. Proteobacteria phylum composed most of the species described in all samples. At the class level, Gammaproteobacteria was the most detected, followed by Alphaproteobacteria and Flavobacteriia. The most prevalent order was Alteromonadales, which was present in Weld2, followed by Rhodobacteriales, which was more prevalent in Fe1020 and Weld1. The orders Cytophagales, Sphingomonadales, and Burkholderiales were described in higher number in Fe1020, whereas Oceanospirillales, Thiotrichales, Flavobacteriales, Rhodospirillales, and Kordiimonadales were higher in samples Weld1 and Weld2. The analyses between the three evaluated conditions show the presences of bacterial groups preferred by different types of metal, suggesting that approaches in the control of biocorrosion should take into account the chemical composition of the metal.

The corrosion process caused by the activity of the anaerobic sporulated bacterium Clostridium celerecrescens on API XL 52 steel

The microbial corrosion of oil and gas pipes is one of the problems occurring in the oil industry. Various mechanisms explaining microbial corrosion have been demonstrated. Commonly, biocorrosion is attributed to sulfate-reducing bacteria. Also, it has recently been reported that microbial species can connect their electron transport system to metal electrodes. In this research, two spore-forming bacteria isolated in different years from a gas pipeline were identified by biochemical techniques and by 16S rDNA amplification, sequencing, and comparison with the NCBI database. Isolates were also compared between them using molecular techniques as the restriction patterns, unique for 16S rDNA (ARDRA), and the profile of the amplified bit from the genomic DNA, using an unspecific primer (RAPD). The results obtained showed that both isolates corresponded to Clostridium celerecrescens with a 99% similarity according to the sequence reported on the NCBI database. Also, the ARDRA and RAPD electrophoretic profiles of both strains were identical, and no plasmids were found in the strains. Thus, it can be settled that this bacterium is persistent in the environment prevailing in gas pipelines. Also, it was demonstrated that the bacterial secretion of organic acids contributes to the pitting and general biocorrosion of API XL 52 steel. The rates of corrosion obtained, approximately after 40 days, were correlated with the presence and metabolic activity of C. celerecrescens on the metallic surfaces.