Identification of key factors in Accelerated Low Water Corrosion through experimental simulation of tidal conditions: influence of stimulated indigenous microbiota |
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| Authors: | Florence Marty Hervé Gueuné Emilie Malard José M. Sánchez-Amaya Lena Sjögren Ben Abbas |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands;2. CORRODYS, Centre de corrosion marine et biologique, Cherbourg – Octeville, France;3. Titania, Ensayos y Proyectos Industriales, Puerto de Santa María, Spain;4. KIMAB, Stockholm, Sweden |
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| Abstract: | Biotic and abiotic factors favoring Accelerated Low Water Corrosion (ALWC) on harbor steel structures remain unclear warranting their study under controlled experimental tidal conditions. Initial stimulation of marine microbial consortia by a pulse of organic matter resulted in localized corrosion and the highest corrosion rates (up to 12-times higher than non-stimulated conditions) in the low water zone, persisting after nine months exposure to natural seawater. Correlations between corrosion severity and the abundance and composition of metabolically active sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) indicated the importance and persistence of specific bacterial populations in accelerated corrosion. One phylotype related to the electrogenic SRB Desulfopila corrodens appeared as the major causative agent of the accelerated corrosion. The similarity of bacterial populations related to sulfur and iron cycles, mineral and tuberculation with those identified in ALWC support the relevance of experimental simulation of tidal conditions in the management of steel corrosion exposed to harbor environments. |
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