Corrosion inhibition in copper by isolated bacteria

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report a study of microbiological influenced corrosion (MIC) of copper due to bacteria strains isolated from potable water pipes and oxidation lagoons using electrochemical noise (EN) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).Design/methodology/approachBacteria strains isolated from copper surfaces of potable water pipes and from oxidation lagoons were identified, based on the 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis. Corrosion studies were undertaken over a period of six weeks, placing copper electrodes inside an LB culture media with and without bacteria. The corrosion resistance was obtained using EN analysis. In all the cases, the corrosion type was identified. SEM images of the copper electrodes were taken to evaluate the surface condition.FindingsThe bacteria strains identified were: Pantoea agglomerans, Alcaligenes faecalis, Bacillus cereus, Brucellaceae bacterium, Enterobacter cloacae, Delftia tsuruhatensis, and Pseudochrobactrum asaccharolyticum. EN analysis gave noise resistance values in the range 1,036‐5,040 Ωcm2 for the control samples and in the range of 2,336‐22,573 Ωcm2 for samples that had been inoculated with bacteria. It was found that a decrease in the rate of corrosion took place due to the development of a biofilm by the microorganisms on the copper surface. SEM images corroborated the presence of the biofilm on the copper electrodes.Practical implicationsThe isolated bacteria strain reduced the rate of corrosion on the copper electrodes, as shown by the SEM images and EN analysis results, due to the formation of a biofilm that can act as an anticorrosive coating.Originality/valueEven though MIC is a known phenomenon, it has not been reported that isolated bacteria strains can reduce corrosion on the surface of copper potable water pipes and in oxidation lagoons.