Corrosion Behavior of Q235 Carbon Steel in Presence of H2S Producing Bacillus sp. and a Consortium of Microbes Isolated from Inner Rust Layer

Abstract

In this work, a pure Bacillus sp. and a consortium of microbes were isolated from inner rust layer of carbon steel from marine environment. Corrosion behavior of Q235 carbon steel was investigated in the presence and in the absence of Bacillus sp. and with consortium of microbes separately. Weight loss, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrum (EDS) tests were conducted to observe the influence on corrosion behavior of carbon steel in the presence and in the absence of bacteria. The results showed that corrosion potential (E-corr) decreased and the corrosion current density increased in the presence of bacteria, in contrast with the sterile medium with the same exposure time interval. The weight loss was observed and micrometer-scale pitting further confirmed by SEM on the carbon steel surface in the presence of bacteria especially with the Bacillus sp. Most importantly in the present work Bacillus sp. behaved like sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB). Further, it was confirmed that in natural environment Bacillus sp. could also act like sulfate-reducing bacteria and deteriorating carbon steel, especially in the form of localized pitting/corrosion.