Effect of Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria (SRB) on the Corrosion of Buried Pipe Steel in Acidic Soil Solution
Lijuan Chen, Bo Wei, XU Xiang-hong
Abstract
The influence of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) on the corrosion behaviors of X80 pipeline steel was investigated in a soil environment by electrochemical techniques and surface analysis. It was found that SRB grew well in the acidic soil environment and further attached to the coupon surface, resulting in microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of the steel. The corrosion process of X80 steel was significantly affected by the SRB biofilm on the steel surface. Steel corrosion was inhibited by the highly bioactive SRB biofilm at the early stage of the experiment, while SRB can accelerate the corrosion of steel at the later stage of the experiment. The steel surface suffered severe pitting corrosion in the SRB-containing soil solution.