A review of ‘green’ strategies to prevent or mitigate microbiologically influenced corrosion

Abstract

Two approaches to control microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) have been developed that do not require the use of biocides. These strategies include the following: i) use of biofilms to inhibit or prevent corrosion, and ii) manipulation (removal or addition) of an electron acceptor, (e.g. oxygen, sulphate or nitrate) to influence the microbial population. In both approaches the composition of the microbial community is affected by small perturbations in the environment (e.g. temperature, nutrient concentration and flow) and the response of microorganisms cannot be predicted with certainty. The following sections will review the literature on the effectiveness of these environmentally friendly, “green,” strategies for controlling MIC.

Keywords:

• Microbiologically influenced corrosion
• biofilms
• inhibition
• electron acceptors

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Office of Naval Research Program element 0601153 N (6.1 Research Program). NRL publication number NRL/JA/7303-06-6312.