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Most microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) studies focus on the threat of pinhole leaks caused by MIC pitting. However, microbes can also lead to structural failures. Tetrakis hydroxymethyl phosphonium sulfate (THPS) biocide mitigated the microbial degradation of mechanical properties of X80 steel pipeline by Desulfovibrio ferrophilus (IS5 strain), a very corrosive sulfate reducing bacterium. It was found that 100 ppm (w/w) THPS added to the enriched artificial seawater (EASW) culture medium before incubation resulted in 2.8-log reduction in sessile cell count after a 7-d incubation at 28 °C under anaerobic conditions, leading to 94% uniform corrosion rate reduction (from 1.3 to 0.07 mm/a), and 84% pitting corrosion rate reduction (from 0.70 to 0.11 mm/a). The X80 dogbone coupon incubated with 100 ppm THPS for 7 d suffered 3% loss in ultimate tensile strain and 0% loss in ultimate tensile strength compared with the abiotic control in EASW. In comparison, the no-treatment X80 dogbone coupon suffered losses of 13% in ultimate tensile strain and 6% in ultimate tensile stress, demonstrating very good THPS efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering living functional biofilms offers an ecofriendly and efficient technique for the corrosion protection of metallic materials in marine environments. Its firm attachment to the metal surface is a key step to effectively improve the corrosion protection. Herein, engineered Escherichia coli biofilm with strong metal binding ability is constructed by genetically appending a metal binding domain (MBD) to extracellular amyloids. The engineered living biofilm improved the corrosion resistance of X70 carbon steel. Moreover, a biofilm‐induced mineralization layer, mainly composed of calcite, is formed on the X70 surface, which provided a stable corrosion barrier. At the end of 7‐days immersion, the icorr decreased from 5.1 ± 0.4 µA cm−2 without biofilm to 0.5 ± 0.1 µA cm−2 with E. coli MBD biofilm, resulting in a corrosion inhibition efficiency of 90.2%. It also demonstrated the corrosion protection effect for 304 stainless steel, suggesting possible broad applications of the engineered biofilm. The application of synthetic biology offers a novel approach in the development of anti‐corrosion technologies in water environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MIC (microbiologically influenced corrosion) is problematic in many industries, especially in the oil and gas industry. In this work, N80 carbon steel for pipelines was tested with 26Cr3Mo chromium pipeline steel for comparison in SRB (sulfate-reducing bacterium) MIC mitigation using a THPS (tetrakis hydroxymethyl phosphonium sulfate)-based commercial biocide (Biotreat 5475 with 75–80% THPS by mass). Peptide A, a nature-mimicking synthetic cyclic peptide (cys-ser-val-pro-tyr-asp-tyr-asn-trp-tyr-ser-asn-trp-cys) with biofilm dispersal ability was used as a biocide enhancer. Metal coupons covered with 3-d old Desulfovibrio ferrophilus IS5 biofilms were immersed in different biocide solutions. After 1-h treatment, 200 ppm Biotreat 5475, 200 ppm Biotreat 5475 + 200 nM (360 ppb) Peptide A, and 400 ppm Biotreat 5475 achieved 0.5-log, 1.7-log and 1.9-log reductions in sessile cell count on N80, and 0.7-log, 1.7-log, and 1.8-log on 26Cr3Mo, respectively. The addition of 200 nM Peptide A cut the THPS biocide dosage by nearly half. Biocide injection tests in electrochemical glass cells after 1 h exhibited 15%, 70%, and 72% corrosion inhibition efficiency (based on corrosion current density) on N80, and 27%, 79%, 75% on 26Cr3Mo, respectively. Linear polarization resistance and electrochemical impedance spectrometry results also indicated antimicrobial efficacies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biocorrosion, also called microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC), is a common operational threat to many industrial processes. It threatens carbon steel, stainless steel and many other metals. In the bioprocessing industry, reactor vessels in biomass processing and bioleaching are prone to MIC. MIC is caused by biofilms. The formation and morphology of biofilms can be impacted by fluid flow. Fluid velocity affects biocide distribution and MIC. Thus, assessing the efficacy of a biocide for the mitigation of MIC under flow condition is desired before a field trial. In this work, a benchtop closed flow loop bioreactor design was used to investigate the biocide mitigation of MIC of C1018 carbon steel at 25 °C for 7 days using enriched artificial seawater. An oilfield biofilm consortium was analyzed using metagenomics. The biofilm consortium was grown anaerobically in the flow loop which had a holding vessel for the culture medium and a chamber to hold C1018 carbon steel coupons. Peptide A (codename) was a chemically synthesized cyclic 14-mer (cys-ser-val-pro-tyr-asp-tyr-asn-trp-tyr-ser-asn-trp-cys) with its core 12-mer sequence originated from a biofilm dispersing protein secreted by a sea anemone which possesses a biofilm-free exterior. It was used as a biocide enhancer. The combination of 50 ppm (w/w) THPS (tetrakis hydroxymethyl phosphonium sulfate) biocide + 100 nM (180 ppb by mass) Peptide A resulted in extra 1-log reduction in the sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) sessile cell count and the acid producing bacteria (APB) sessile cell count compared to 50 ppm THPS alone treatment. Furthermore, with the enhancement of 100 nM Peptide A, extra 44% reduction in weight loss and 36% abatement in corrosion pit depth were achieved compared to 50 ppm THPS alone treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protection of marine materials against corrosion using marine bacterial biofilms is a promising strategy. However, little is known about the mechanisms of this attractive corrosion prevention method. In this work, the corrosion behaviors of X80 carbon steel (CS) in the presence of three different marine Vibrio species were studied. The results demonstrated that all the three Vibrio spp. displayed significant corrosion protection with a weight loss reduction of up to 68%. Moreover, their corrosion prevention performance was tightly related to their abilities to form biofilms, which was in the order of Vibrio sp. EF187016 > Vibrio alginolyticus > Vibrio parahaemolyticus. To further investigate the corrosion prevention mechanism caused by marine biofilms, the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of Vibrio sp. EF187016 was extracted and added to 3.5 wt% NaCl for abiotic corrosion testing. The results suggested that the EPS inhibited corrosion, which means EPS can play a significant role in corrosion protection by biofilm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corrosion mechanism of carbon steel under deposit in the presence of sulfate reducing bacterium (SRB) Desulfotomaculum nigrificans was studied using surface analysis, weight loss and electrochemical measurements. Results showed that both the general corrosion and localized corrosion were considerably promoted by SRB under deposit. The corrosion rate of steel in the presence of SRB was approximately 6 times of that for the control according to the weight loss measurements. The maximum corrosion pit depth in the presence of SRB was approximately 7.7 times of that of the control. Both the anodic and cathodic reactions were significantly accelerated by SRB. A galvanic effect in the presence of SRB due to the heterogeneous biofilm led to serious localized corrosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inhibition effect of an imidazoline derivative, dodecanoic acid and dodecylamine against CO 2 corrosion and microbiologically influence corrosion in a CO 2 -containing oilfield produced water was studied using surface analysis, weight loss and electrochemical measurements. Results indicated that dodecanoic acid could inhibit the adhesion of iron-oxidizing bacteria (IOB) significantly on carbon steel coupons, but had no effect on the planktonic IOB growth. Its inhibition efficiency reached 88.2% after 43 days of incubation. An imidazoline derivative was found to inhibit the adhesion of IOB on the steel surface, and contributed to lower inhibition effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon steels are widely used in the oil and gas industry from downhole tubing to transport trunk lines. Microbes form biofilms, some of which cause the so-called microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of carbon steels. MIC by sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) is often a leading cause in MIC failures. Electrogenic SRB sessile cells harvest extracellular electrons from elemental iron oxidation for energy production in their metabolism. A previous study suggested that electron mediators riboflavin and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) both accelerated the MIC of 304 stainless steel by the Desulfovibrio vulgaris biofilm that is a corrosive SRB biofilm. Compared with stainless steels, carbon steels are usually far more prone to SRB attacks because SRB biofilms form much denser biofilms on carbon steel surfaces with a sessile cell density that is two orders of magnitude higher. In this work, C1018 carbon steel coupons were used in tests of MIC by D. vulgaris with and without an electron mediator. Experimental weight loss and pit depth data conclusively confirmed that both riboflavin and FAD were able to accelerate D. vulgaris attack against the carbon steel considerably. It has important implications in MIC failure analysis and MIC mitigation in the oil and gas industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The study of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) has long been plagued by a lack of clear understanding of MIC mechanisms. In this work, bioenergetics was used to explain why and when sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) became aggressive toward carbon steel. Fe2+/Fe0 and acetate + (lactate) have similar reduction potentials at pH 7 (−447 mV vs. −430 mV). Bioenergetically, Fe0 oxidation releases more energy than lactate oxidation, but Fe0 cannot provide organic carbons needed for growth. If there is insufficient carbon source that can diffuse from the bulk fluid to an iron surface, sessile cells at the bottom of an SRB biofilm on the surface may suffer from local carbon source starvation. In this work, mature Desulfovibrio vulgaris (ATCC 7757) biofilms initially grown in ATCC 1249 culture medium on C1018 carbon steel coupons were subjected to starvation by switching to fresh culture media with 0% (control), 90%, 99% and 100% less organic carbon, respectively. It was found that 90% and 99% carbon reductions increased weight loss significantly. Experimental data also showed that 90% carbon reduction caused a 10 μm maximum pit depth, largest among all other cases, while 99% carbon reduction yielded the highest specific weight loss of 0.0019 g/cm2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) is a serious problem threatening structural integrity and safety. Metal corrosion pits can develop into more harmful cracks under mechanical stress. It is known in abiotic corrosion that fast corrosion does not necessarily cause more severe SCC. This is because fast corrosion can prevent or dissolve crack tips and convert them into less harmful pits if the uniform corrosion rate is fast enough. This work experimentally proved the hypothesis that the same phenomenon occurs in biotic corrosion. It was found that a highly corrosive SRB (sulfate reducing bacterium) strain, namely Desulfovibrio ferrophilus (strain IS5), caused fast uniform corrosion and dull pits, but no SCC cracks against X80 carbon steel U-bend coupons (stressed). In comparison, Desulfovibrio vulgaris , a far less corrosive SRB strain caused less corrosion, but generated sharp pits and SCC cracks in a 3-month lab test. This work also revealed that the X80 U-bend had a 44% higher sessile cell count and 34% higher weight loss after a 14-d D. ferrophilus incubation in deoxygenated enriched artificial seawater culture medium at 28 °C when compared with the (flat) square coupons (no stress). This weight loss trend was corroborated by transient electrochemical measurements. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Rough surface finish on a coupon facilitates early biofilm development. • Highly-corrosive D. ferrophilus IS5 provides large weight losses. • 36 grit has higher sessile cell count and higher weight loss than 600 grit at 7 d. • These differences wane over time as suggested by 30 d data. • Electrochemical data support weight loss data with additional transient information. Carbon steel microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) by sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) is known to occur via extracellular electron transfer (EET). A higher biofilm sessile cell count leads to more electrons being harvested for sulfate reduction by SRB in energy production. Metal surface roughness can impact the severity of MIC by SRB because of varied biofilm attachment. C1018 carbon steel coupons (1.2 cm2 top working surface) polished to 36 grit (4.06 μm roughness which is relatively rough) and 600 grit (0.13 μm) were incubated in enriched artificial seawater inoculated with highly corrosive Desulfovibrio ferrophilus IS5 at 28 ℃ for 7 d and 30 d. It was found that after 7 d of SRB incubation, 36 grit coupons had a 11% higher sessile cell count at (2.0 ± 0.17) × 108 cells/cm2, 52% higher weight loss at 22.4 ± 5.9 mg/cm2 (1.48 ± 0.39 mm/a uniform corrosion rate), and 18% higher maximum pit depth at 53 μm compared with 600 grit coupons. However, after 30 d, the differences diminished. Electrochemical tests with transient information supported the weight loss data trends. This work suggests that a rougher surface facilitates initial biofilm establishment but provides no long-term advantage for increased biofilm growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Generally speaking, a much higher concentration of biocide is needed to treat biofilms compared to the dosage used to for planktonic bacteria. With increasing restrictions of environmental regulations and safety concerns on large-scale biocide uses such as oil field applications, it is highly desirable to make more effective use of biocides. In this paper a green biocide enhancer ethylenediaminedisuccinate (EDDS) that is a biodegradable chelator, was found to enhance the efficacy of glutaraldehyde in its treatment of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) biofilms. Experiments were carried out in 100 ml anaerobic vials with carbon steel coupons. The ATCC 14563 strain of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans was used. Biofilms on coupon surfaces were visualized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Experimental results showed that EDDS reduced the glutaraldehyde dosages considerably in the inhibition of SRB biofilm establishment and the treatment of established biofilms on carbon steel coupon surfaces. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• More Fe2+ leads to better planktonic and sessile Desulfovibrio vulgaris growth. • More Fe2+ increases dissolved H 2 S concentration despite increased FeS precipitation. • More Fe2+ in the culture medium increases carbon steel weight loss and pit depth. • With more Fe2+, increased corrosion is primarily attributed to more sessile cells. • Electrochemical measurements corroborate weight loss and pit depth data. Ferrous ion (Fe2+) in a sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) culture medium is known to enhance microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of carbon steel, but the underlining mechanism is controversial. This work showed that it was due to better sessile cell growth that was likely attributed to Fe2+ detoxification of H 2 S. Two hundred ppm (w/w) initial Fe2+ in the ATCC 1249 medium achieved a 4.7 times higher Desulfovibrio vulgaris sessile cell count and 5.0 times higher C1018 carbon steel weight loss, compared to 20 ppm. Linear polarization resistance, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization measurements corroborated weight loss and pitting data trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A biocide enhancer is a chemical that can enhance the efficacy of a biocide or reduce its dosage. In this work, a novel peptide was tested as a biocide enhancer. A chemically synthesized 14-mer peptide (Peptide A), which was found non-biocidal, has an amino acid sequence derived from sea anemone Actinia equina that possesses a biofilm-free exterior. Peptide A at 180 ppb (w/w) or 100 nM enhanced 100 ppm tetrakis hydroxymethyl phosphonium sulfate (THPS) against an oilfield biofilm consortium grown on C1018 carbon steel in an enriched artificial seawater medium. The combination of 100 nM Peptide A + 100 ppm THPS led to additional 2-log reduction, 1-log reduction, 1-log reduction in sessile sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) cell count, sessile acid producing bacteria (APB) cell count, and sessile general heterotrophic bacteria (GHB) cell count, in comparison with the treatment using 100 ppm THPS alone in a 14-day laboratory biofilm prevention test. The data in this work suggest that non-biocidal Peptide A is a promising biocide enhancer that should be further explored. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Cyclic Peptide A is engineered based on a 12-mer sequence in Equinatoxin II protein. • Peptide A reduces tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium sulfate (THPS) dosage. • Peptide A at ppb levels enhances the biocide against an oilfield biofilm consortium. • The biocide cocktail reduces carbon steel weight loss and maximum pit depth. • Linear polarization resistance results corroborate weight loss and pitting data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Cu MIC by sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) is shown to be metabolite MIC (M-MIC). • Carbon starvation reduces H 2 S secretion and thus decreases M-MIC of Cu. • In comparison, carbon starvation causes more aggressive MIC against carbon steel. • Cu MIC by SRB causes considerable uniform corrosion with occasional pits. • Cu MIC by SRB and carbon steel MIC by SRB belong to two different MIC types. Abstract Cu corrosion by Desulfovibrio vulgaris , an example of sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB), was investigated. D. vulgaris was first pre-grown in full-strength ATCC 1249 medium with coupons for three days. Then, the medium was switched to fresh media with decreased levels of carbon source. Unlike microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of carbon steel by D. vulgaris , carbon starvation reduced Cu corrosion during the additional seven days of incubation. Experimental data and a thermodynamic analysis indicated that Cu MIC by SRB was caused by secreted sulfide rather than by electron harvesting for energy production, unlikely in the carbon steel MIC by SRB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is prevalent in the oil and gas industry. Problematic biofilms cause MIC and reservoir souring. A high biocide concentration is usually required to mitigate biofilms compared with planktonic cells. This causes economic and environmental concerns. A biocide enhancer can make a biocide more effective using the same or lower biocide dosage. In this work, an equimolar mixture of 100 ppm (w/w) of four D-amino acids (D-methionine, D-tyrosine, D-tryptophan, and D-leucine) labeled as D-mix enhanced 100 ppm tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium sulfate (THPS) against a field biofilm consortium on C1018 carbon steel coupons. In order to test chemical compatibilities, D-amino acids were added together with THPS and enhanced oil recovery chemicals (a polymer, a surfactant, a corrosion inhibitor, and a scale inhibitor) to treat the mature biofilm consortium. After a 7-day biofilm removal test in 125 ml anaerobic vials, the cocktail of 100 ppm THPS +100 ppm D-mix achieved extra logs of reduction in sessile cell counts compared with the 100 ppm THPS alone treatment. The combination also achieved lower weight loss and smaller maximum pit depths. Electrochemical tests corroborated the weight loss and pitting data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon steel microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) by sulfate reducing Desulfovibrio vulgaris belongs to extracellular electron transfer MIC (EET-MIC). Adding 20 ppm (w/w) Fe 3 O 4 magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) to ATCC 1249 culture medium did not alter sessile and planktonic cell counts significantly, but it caused 59% more weight loss and 85% deeper pit depth, respectively after 7 days of incubation. Electrochemical data corroborated the increases. In comparison, D. vulgaris MIC of Cu was not affected by 20 ppm MNPs because it belongs to metabolite MIC (M-MIC) without EET. Thus, MNPs can be a useful tool to distinguish some EET-MIC cases from M-MIC. • Magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) accelerate extracellular electron transfer (EET). • 20 ppm (w/w) MNPs accelerate EET-MIC of carbon steel by D. vulgaris. • 59% and 85% increases in weight loss and pit depth, respectively are observed. • Magnetism helps to attract MNPs to a carbon steel coupon surface. • Insoluble MNPs can be a useful tool to distinguish EET-MIC from metabolite-MIC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Data confirm extracellular electron transfer MIC (EET-MIC) mechanism. • Riboflavin enhances Desulfovibrio ferrophilus IS5 EET-MIC considerably. • Very high carbon steel pitting corrosion rate for a pure-strain SRB is shown. • H 2 evolution data rule out acid and H 2 S corrosion as significant contributors. • D. ferrophilus biofilm starts to respond to riboflavin injection within minutes. EET (extracellular electron transfer) is behind MIC (microbiologically influenced corrosion) of carbon steel by SRB (sulfate reducing bacteria). This work evaluated 20 ppm (w/w) riboflavin (an electron mediator) acceleration of C1018 carbon steel MIC by Desulfovibrio ferrophilus IS5 in enriched artificial seawater (EASW) after 7-d incubation in anaerobic vials at 28 °C. Twenty ppm riboflavin did not significantly change cell growth or alter the corrosion product varieties, but it led to 52% increase in weight loss and 105% increase in pit depth, compared to the control without 20 ppm riboflavin. With 20 ppm riboflavin supplement in EASW, D. ferrophilus yielded weight loss-based corrosion rate of 1.57 mm/y (61.8 mpy), and pit depth growth rate of 2.88 mm/y (113 mpy), highest reported for short-term pure-strain SRB MIC of carbon steel. Electrochemical tests in 450 mL glass cells indicated that the biofilm responded rather quickly to the riboflavin injection (20 ppm in broth) to the culture medium. Polarization resistance (R p) began to decrease within minutes after injection. Within 2 h, the riboflavin injection led to 31% decrease in R p and 35% decrease in R ct + R f from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The Tafel corrosion current density increased 63% 2 h after the injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of zinc and galvanized steel caused by a sulfate reducing bacterium (SRB) was investigated. After 7 days of incubation of Desulfovibrio vulgaris in 125 mL anaerobic vials (100 mL culture medium) at 37 °C, the sessile cell coverage on the galvanized steel was slightly higher than that on pure zinc: (1.9 ± 0.2) × 109 cells/cm2 vs. (9.0 ± 1.8) × 108 cells/cm2. The weight losses for galvanized steel and pure zinc were 31.5 ± 2.5 mg/cm2 and 35.4 ± 4.5 mg/cm2, respectively, which were 101 higher than that for carbon steel. The corrosion current densities of galvanized and pure zinc were 25.5 μA/cm2 and 100 μA/cm2, respectively after the 7-day incubation, confirming that galvanized steel was less prone to SRB MIC despite having a slightly higher sessile cell count. In both cases, the corrosion product was mainly ZnS. Three MIC mechanisms were possible for the severe corrosion against the two metals. Extracellular electron transfer MIC (EET-MIC) was thermodynamically favorable for zinc. Furthermore, in the presence of Zn coupons, H 2 evolution in the headspace was 5.5 times higher than without Zn coupons, which suggested that proton attack and/or H 2 S attack also occurred in the corrosion process. • Desulfovibrio vulgaris forms dense biofilms on zinc and galvanized steel. • Three MIC mechanisms are possible for the severe MIC of the two metals. • Zinc and galvanized steel weight losses are 10X larger than that of C1018 carbon steel. • Electrochemical test results are consistent with weight loss and pitting data trends. • H 2 evolution is used to detect corrosion by proton and H 2 S attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Carbon steel MIC by SRB belongs to extracellular electron transfer MIC (EET-MIC). • Cu MIC by SRB belongs to metabolite-MIC (M-MIC), unaffected by EET. • EET-MIC is accelerated by an electron mediator, but M-MIC is not. • Electron mediator is a useful tool to distinguish EET-MIC from M-MIC. • H 2 detection is a very sensitive tool to confirm M-MIC with H 2 evolution. Carbon steel MIC (microbiologically influenced corrosion) and copper MIC by Desulfovibrio vulgaris (a sulfate reducing bacterium) were shown to behave very differently. Carbon steel MIC was accelerated with an 84 % weight loss increase by 20 ppm (w/w) riboflavin (an electron mediator) while Cu MIC was not. This was because the former belongs to extracellular electron transfer (EET)-MIC while the latter metabolite (M)-MIC. Cu MIC by biogenic H 2 S yielded a large amount of H 2. This work proved that an electron mediator can distinguish EET-MIC from M-MIC, and H 2 gas detection is very sensitive in identifying M-MIC with H 2 evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]