Microbiologically influenced corrosion inhibition of carbon steel via biomineralization induced by Shewanella putrefaciens

Yuntian Lou,Luyao Huang,Tianyu Cui,Dawei Zhang,Xiangping Hao,Lingwei Ma,Weiwei Chang,Hongchang Qian

doi:10.1038/s41529-021-00206-0

Yuntian Lou, Luyao Huang + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41529-021-00206-0

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Abstract

Microbiologically influenced corrosion inhibition (MICI) of Q235 carbon steel by biomineralization was investigated via a combination of surface analysis, electrochemistry, and scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). The results showed that Shewanella putrefaciens used the cell walls as the nucleation sites to induce the formation of a protective biomineralized layers which contained calcite and extracellular polymeric substances on the steel surface. The potentiodynamic polarization results demonstrated that the corrosion current density (icorr value) of the biomineralized steel surface was 0.38 μA cm−2, which was less than one-tenth that of the blank steel in a sterile medium (4.86 μA cm−2) after 14 days. The biomineralized layers presented wear resistance and could self-repair after undergoing mechanical damage under microbial conditions as verified by morphological and SECM observations. This work reveals that microbial-induced carbonate biomineralization, as a MICI approach, may be considered as a reliable, low-cost, environmentally friendly corrosion inhibition strategy.

Highlights

Corrosion is the result of spontaneous chemical or electrochemical reactions between metals and the surrounding environment and has costly and detrimental effects on a variety of industries[1,2]
As a result of in-depth research on metal products that were preserved over a dozen centuries ago via archeological processes and metallic materials that were slightly degraded in renovation projects, it was found that microorganisms may play a key role in inhibiting corrosion[7,8]
The SEM images showed that a large quantity of corrosion products accumulated and formed a uniform layer on the coupon surface after immersion in the sterile medium for 14 days (Fig. 1b)

Summary

Introduction

Corrosion is the result of spontaneous chemical or electrochemical reactions between metals and the surrounding environment and has costly and detrimental effects on a variety of industries[1,2]. The compositions of the induced mineralization layers became thicker and more uniform surface product in media with and without S. putrefaciens were after 14 days of immersion.

Results

Conclusion