Recent Advances in Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion: Understanding Microbial Communities, Biofilm Dynamics, and Control Strategies 🦠⚙...
Published on by Hossein Ataei Far, Deputy Manager of the Research, Technology Development, and Industry Relations Center at NWWEC
**Mechanisms of MIC:**
1. **Biofilm Formation:** Researchers explore the formation and dynamics of microbial biofilms on metal surfaces, understanding their structure, metabolic activities, and communication mechanisms.
2. **Electrochemical Processes:** Enhanced understanding of electrochemical reactions at the metal-microbe interface reveals microbial metabolism's role in altering pH, oxygen levels, and redox potential, accelerating corrosion.
3. **Metal-Microbe Interactions:** Studies characterize molecular interactions between microorganisms and metal surfaces, including adhesion mechanisms and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production.
**Microbial Communities:**
1. **Metagenomics and Microbiome Analysis:** High-throughput sequencing provides insights into MIC-associated microbial community composition, functional potential, and ecological interactions.
2. **Microbial Diversity and Succession:** Longitudinal studies uncover microbial colonization dynamics and succession patterns during corrosion, informing MIC management.
**Microbially influenced concrete corrosion (MICC) **:
The phenomenon of Microbially Induced Corrosion of Concrete (MICC) inflicts significant financial losses on modern societies. Extensive research spanning several decades has examined concrete corrosion in the context of various environmental factors. With growing public awareness regarding the environmental and economic repercussions of MICC, it has garnered increasing attention. This review by Dongsheng Wang et al. (2023) aims to shed light on the roles of different microbial communities in MICC, as well as the protective measures against it. Additionally, it discusses the current status and research methodologies about MICC.
The primary objective of MICC research is concrete protection. However, certain drawbacks and undisclosed effects of various protective measures exist. For instance, while biocides effectively inhibit microbial growth, their impact on concrete performance and the environment may pose concerns. Although modifications to concrete and coatings offer some protection, challenges persist in their practical engineering application. These challenges include cost, construction processes, and environmental impacts.
**Early Detection:**
1. **Sensor Technologies:** Innovative sensors enable early detection of MIC-related corrosion, including electrochemical sensors, microbial impedance spectroscopy, and optical probes.
2. **Real-time Monitoring Systems:** Integration of sensor data with real-time monitoring enables continuous corrosion process surveillance, facilitating predictive maintenance and intervention.
**Control Strategies:**
1. **Biofilm Disruption:** Novel methods disrupt and inhibit biofilms, employing antimicrobial peptides, quorum sensing inhibitors, and surface modifications to prevent microbial colonization.
2. **Biostatic and Biocidal Treatments:** Targeted treatments selectively inhibit corrosion-promoting microorganisms while preserving beneficial microbial communities, using natural compounds, biofilm dispersants, and engineered probiotics.
3. **Bioremediation and Microbial Control:** Strategies leverage microbial metabolism to remediate corrosion products and mitigate environmental impacts, employing microbial consortia and enzymatic processes.
In summary, recent MIC research integrates microbiology, corrosion science, materials engineering, and environmental monitoring. Understanding microbial interactions with metal surfaces drives innovative strategies for MIC detection, prevention, and control in diverse industrial settings.
Kindly examine the paper "Progress in Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion: Mechanisms, Microbial Communities, Early Detection, and Control Strategies" that was submitted by Dr. Laura L. Machuca and Dr. Yingchao Li of Beijing Key Laboratory of Failure, Corrosion and Protection of Oil/Gas Facility Materials, College of New Energy and Materials, China University of Petroleum-Beijing. Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) and its suppression, biofilms, bacterial quorum sensing, marine and deep-water corrosion, localized corrosion and corrosion-resistant alloys (CRAs), and environmentally friendly inhibitor chemicals are some examples of microbe-metal interactions.
References:
1. Wang, D., Guan, F., Feng, C., Mathivanan, K., Zhang, R., & Sand, W. (2023).
2.Luo, J., Li, D., Wang, H., Liu, H., Liu, Y., & Gu, T. (2021).
3. Yang, H., Zhan, J., Wang, H., & Gu, T. (2021).
4. Zhang, Y., Liu, H., Luo, J., & Gu, T. (2020).
5. Gao, J., Kong, D., Gu, T., & Zhang, D. (2020).
6. Zhou, E., Li, J., & Yang, K. (2020).