Myrtus communis extract: a bio-controller for microbial corrosion induced by sulphate reducing bacteria

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to study the inhibitory effect of the Myrtus communis extract on the microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) induced by sulphate reducing bacterial (SRB) consortium in the cooling tower water. The SRB consortium was grown on the surface of the st37 steel and its effects on the surface corrosion were evaluated. The results of electrochemical measurements and microscopic observations revealed that the extract could significantly reduce the corrosion by inhibiting the SRB biofilm formation. The addition of the 0.781 mg ml⁻¹ of the extract into the SRB medium led to a considerable reduction (about seven times) in the corrosion process of the st37 steel and kept it at an almost constant value. Based on Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, 2-Furancarboxaldehyde, 5-(hydroxymethyl) (42.396%) was the most abundant compound identified in the plant extract. The molecular identification has proved that most population of SRB consortium was related to Desulfovibrio vulgaris species.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Bacterial corrosion
• carbon steel
• Myrtus communis
• polarisation
• SRB
• biofilm

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial supports provided by Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex, Kerman, Iran under contract No. 951917 – dated May 10, 2015.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).