The assay of in-situ activities of sulphate-reducing bacteria in a laboratory marine corrosion model

A critical reappraisal of the ³⁵S] sulphate reduction assay as applied to studies of microbial corrosion has identified sulphate limitation and the production of both acid volatile and nonacid volatile sulphides as key factors which must be incorporated into the assay and into the interpretation of its findings. Application of the modified assay to a laboratory corrosion model gave data reinforcing the fundamental role of environmental factors, notably oxygen, in determining the nature and extent of the corrosion process.