Influence of Desulfovibrio ferrophilus IS5 Biofilm on the Biocorrosion of Carbon Steel

This study explores the biocorrosion behavior of carbon steel in pipeline environments, emphasizing the roles of surface roughness, fluid shear stress, temperature, pH and clock position as key influencing factors. Through gravimetric and electrochemical analyses, it was observed that carbon steel with increased surface roughness exhibited significantly higher corrosion rates compared to smoother surfaces, underscoring a greater sensitivity to biocorrosion. The findings also revealed that agitated samples experienced lower corrosion rates than stationary ones, suggesting that fluid shear stress hinders biofilm attachment while promoting the detachment of loosely adhered cells into the bulk fluid. Temperature played a crucial role, with extreme temperatures (10 °C and 60 °C) leading to reduced corrosion rates, whereas moderate temperatures (28 °C and 37 °C) were associated with heightened biocorrosion, indicating that optimal thermal conditions favor microbial activity. Additionally, the study identified that a neutral pH of 7, in conjunction with an incubation temperature of 28 °C, provides the most favorable conditions for the formation of Desulfovibrio ferrophilus biofilms. Pit depth analysis further corroborated the results obtained from weight loss and electrochemical testing, confirming the integral role of these factors in influencing biocorrosion processes.