Effects of biogenic H2S on the microbiologically influenced corrosion of C1018 carbon steel by sulfate reducing Desulfovibrio vulgaris biofilm

• Published in: Corrosion science Vol. 130; pp. 1 - 11
• Main Authors: Jia, Ru, Tan, Jie Long, Jin, Peng, Blackwood, Daniel John, Xu, Dake, Gu, Tingyue
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2018
• Subjects: A. Carbon steel; B. SEM; B. Weight loss; C. Microbiological corrosion; C. Pitting corrosion; B. SEM; A. Carbon steel; C. Pitting corrosion; B. Weight loss; C. Microbiological corrosion
• ISSN: 0010-938X; 1879-0496
• DOI: 10.1016/j.corsci.2017.10.023

•Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is studied in vials and glass cells.•Biogenic H2S is not the primary corrosive agent in MIC by Desulfovibrio vulgaris.•A larger headspace allows more H2S to escape and this increases liquid-phase pH.•A larger headspace leads to a lower dissolved H2S concentration in the liquid phase.•A larger headspace results in more weight loss and more severe pitting corrosion. The role of biogenic H2S in the microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of carbon steel was investigated. Desulfovibrio vulgaris (ATCC 7757), a sulfate reducing bacterium, was tested against C1018 carbon steel in anaerobic vials with three different sizes, each filled with 40mL of ATCC 1249 culture medium, providing headspace volumes of 10mL, 85mL and 160mL, respectively for H2S to escape. Results showed that a larger headspace led to a lower H2S concentration in the culture medium, and this increased the sessile cell count and made the iron sulfide film thinner, resulting in increased MIC.