Reduction of sulphate reducing bacterial survival by Cu-Ni, Zn-Ni and Cu-Zn-Ni coatings using electroless plating technique for oil/diesel pipeline applications

Abstract

Oil must be transported by a network of pipelines, laid over various harsh environments. Microbial invasion is more challenging in oil and gas/biofuel pipelines and storage tanks carbon steel (CS). The surfaces of pipeline colonize with the biofilm and form the complex microbial structure which breaks down even the heavy-walled CS pipes, resulting in leaks and catastrophic pipeline failure. Among the various microorganisms, sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) is the most abundant bacterial species that cause internal corrosion of the pipelines. In the present study, Cu, Zn single layer and Cu-Ni, Zn-Ni and Cu-Zn-Ni coatings were developed by electroless plating and studied their antibacterial effect using SRB which is isolated from diesel garage. For bacterial analysis, total viable count (TVC) and epifluorescence microscope analysis were studied.