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- Microbiologically influenced corrosion (3) (entfernen)
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The role of metal reducing bacteria (MRB) in corrosion is being controversially discussed in the literature. They can utilize metals including iron, uranium and manganese as well as many organic compounds as electron acceptors. The reduction of Fe(III) compounds to soluble Fe(II) species leads to the destruction of passive films on steel, resulting in acceleration of general and local corrosion processes. Recent research shows that the secretion of electron shuttles like riboflavins also contribute to the extracellular electron transfer (EET).
The aim of this project is to understand the chemical and electrochemical interaction mechanisms of MRB with steel surfaces by means of combined in situ techniques. An electrochemical XANES (x-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy) cell has been designed to study the changes of passive film chemistry in the presence of biomolecules and MRB. Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (eQCM) is used for studying the kinetics of bacterial cell attachment and diffusion of biomolecules in model biofilms. In situ investigations are complemented by ex situ spectroscopic and microscopic analysis to investigate the biofilm structure, composition and cell viability.
Via the combination of electrochemical methods with spectroscopic techniques and QCM we are able to follow biological processes and resulting degradation of steel surfaces in a non-destructive manner. The selection of model systems and a defined biological medium allows the identification of the effects of individual surface and environmental parameters. The fundamental understanding of bacterial attachment mechanisms and initial steps of biofilm formation will contribute to the development of new antifouling strategies.
The corrosion of stainless steel components is a problem of global scale, economically as well as in regards to the safety of industrial equipment and facilities. With microorganisms involved (microbial influenced corrosion, MIC), the problem becomes more complex. Iron reducing bacteria (IRB) for example accelerate the corrosion of iron based materials like stainless steel via the reduction of iron oxides in the passive layer. When co-cultivated with iron oxidizing bacteria, IRBs can induce deep, heterogeneously distributed pits on stainless steel surfaces. The analysis of localized corrosion – or pitting corrosion – is of great relevance since it can lead to unpredictable material failure. In general, macroscopic electrochemical methods are not capable of providing information about the spatial heterogeneity of a sample and thus need to be complemented by multi-electrode based techniques or scanning electrochemical methods.
The aim of this work is to develop methods for the analysis of localized corrosion, on stainless steel surfaces induced by IRB biofilms. The greatest challenge is to address the complexity of two heterogeneous systems at the metal/biofilm interface. First there is the variation in the passive layer composition and microstructure. Secondly, the microbial biofilm with its heterogeneous tree-dimensional structure resulting in local differential aeration cells and electrochemical parameters. To be able to differentiate between individual effects, artificial biofilms mimicking the physical properties of a natural biofilm are used in this study as model systems. This artificial biofilm is applied on a multi-electrode probe to identify local anodic sites during exposure experiments. The detailed analysis of active sites by means of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) allows the investigation of local properties within the biofilm and its immediate vicinity.
The presented analytical approach delivers promising results in clarifying how localized corrosion of stainless steels develops chronologically and spatially in the presence of IRBs. Furthermore, our results on model systems provide the basis for the application of the methodology for the investigation of natural or multi-species biofilms in the future.