Lecture 24: MIC Definitions, Environments and Microbiology

NPTEL Web Course

Lecture 24
Microbially Influenced Corrosion (MIC) Definitions,
Environments and Microbiology
Keywords: Microbial Corrosion, Microorganisms, Biofouling.

Introduction
Microbially-influenced corrosion (MIC) occurs in environments such as soil, fresh
water and sea water and accounts for more than 30 percent of all corrosion damage
of metals, alloys and several building materials. Microorganisms of interest in MIC
belong to many types such as sulfur-sulfide oxidising, sulfate-reducing, iron
oxidising, acid producing, manganese fixing and ammonia and acetate producing
bacteria and fungi. The role of Sulphate Reducing Bacteria (SRB) in MIC has been
extensively studied. Microbial activities under natural conditions influence many
electrochemical reactions directly or indirectly. Microbe-metal interactions involve
initial adhesion, biofilm formation and colonisation, generation of polymeric
substances and inorganic precipitates and subsequent corrosion.

Microbiological as well as physico-chemical and electrochemical aspects of

microbially-influenced corrosion are analysed critically. Monitoring, diagnosis and
prevention of MIC is illustrated along with suggested remedial strategies.

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Course Title: Advances in Corrosion Engineering
Course Co-ordinator: Prof. K. A. Natarajan, IISc Bangalore

Lecture 24: MIC Definitions, Environments and Microbiology

NPTEL Web Course

Seawater, fresh water and soil as corrosive media

Sea water is an aggressive corrosive medium for biofouling and microbiallyinfluenced corrosion (MIC). It contains about 3.4% salt and is a good electrolyte that
can lead to galvanic and crevice corrosion. The rate of corrosion in seawater is
influenced by oxygen content, temperature, velocity and microorganisms. Galvanic
series for metals and alloys in flowing seawater could be used to predict potential
corrosion involving metallic couples.

Similarly, fresh water and sub-soil environments are conducive for microbial life
leading to biofouling and MIC.

With reference to biofouling, copper and copper-base alloys are more resistant
compared to other ferrous alloys.

Definition and practical significance

The role of microorganisms in the deterioration and failure of materials can be
classified into Biofouling, Biodeterioration and Biocorrosion or Microbiologicallyinfluenced corrosion(MIC). The above terms could be complementary in their
ultimate consequences. Biofouling refers to adhesion of micro- and macro-organisms
onto material surfaces in marine, fresh water and soil environments leading to
formation of fouled layers. Deterioration of nonmetallic materials like glass,
concrete, cement, rubber, wood and plastics in the presence of microbes is termed
biodeterioration. Corrosion of metals and alloys induced by the activities of
microorganisms is defined as Microbially-influenced corrosion (MIC). The general
definition for corrosion can be invoked in this case also by adding the superimposed
microbiological forces.

2
Course Title: Advances in Corrosion Engineering
Course Co-ordinator: Prof. K. A. Natarajan, IISc Bangalore

Lecture 24: MIC Definitions, Environments and Microbiology

NPTEL Web Course

Microorganisms are omnipresent and grow and reproduce at amazingly rapid rates in
soil, water and air. The organisms exhibit extreme tolerance to hostile environments
such as acidic and alkaline pH, low and higher temperatures as well as pressure
gradients. Aggressive environments are generated by microorganisms, promoting
direct or indirect corrosion. As early as in 1891, corrosion of lead sheathed cables
was suspected to be caused by bacterial metabolites.

Sulphur and iron sulphide

accumulation at the interior and exterior portions of water pipes were attributed to
the action of iron-sulphur bacteria during early 1900s.

Anaerobic corrosion of

bacteria was first reported in 1931. Tubercle formation due to microbial growth and
reaction products has been reported almost forty years ago.

However, a better

understanding of MIC processes based on microbiological and electrochemical

mechanisms, became available only since the last three decades.

The practical significance of microbial corrosion can be seen from Table 24.1, where
some industrial situations susceptible to microbial corrosion are listed. The extent of
microbial corrosion processes is evident from the fact that many of the commercially
used metals and alloys such as stainless steels, nickel and aluminium-based alloys
and materials such as concrete, asphalt and polymers are readily attacked by
microorganisms. Protective coatings, inhibitors, oils and emulsions can be
biodegraded.

3
Course Title: Advances in Corrosion Engineering
Course Co-ordinator: Prof. K. A. Natarajan, IISc Bangalore

Lecture 24: MIC Definitions, Environments and Microbiology

NPTEL Web Course

Table 24.1 MIC in industrial environments

Nuclear and thermal power plants

Cooling water tubes and pipes, sub-sea pipe

lines, stainless steel and carbon steel, copperalloys, aluminium-alloys

Subsoil pipe lines

Steels

On-shore, off-shore oil and gas processing.

Steels, Aluminium alloys

Chemical industries

Pipelines, Tanks, Condensers, Joints, heat

exchangers.

Civil engineering

Concrete in marine, fresh water and sub-soil

conditions, bridges, buildings.

Water treatment and metal working

Heat exchangers and pipes, Breakdown of oils,

emulsions and lubricants

Aviation (Defence and Civil)

Aluminium fuel tanks

Mining and metallurgical operations

Underground machinery and engineering

materials.

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Course Title: Advances in Corrosion Engineering
Course Co-ordinator: Prof. K. A. Natarajan, IISc Bangalore

Lecture 24: MIC Definitions, Environments and Microbiology

NPTEL Web Course

A few cases of microbially-influenced corrosion reported more specifically in

systems or components in power plants are listed in Table 24.2.
Table 24.2 MIC in power plant materials

Heat exchanger tubing

Aluminium brass, 70:30 Copper-Nickel,

Pitting

90:10 Copper-Nickel
Rust, weld
Water storage tank

316 stainless steel

corrosion

Water pipes

316 stainless steel weld

Pitting

Cooling towers

Galvanised steel

General corrosion

Pumps

Stainless steel

Crevice, pitting

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Course Title: Advances in Corrosion Engineering
Course Co-ordinator: Prof. K. A. Natarajan, IISc Bangalore

Lecture 24: MIC Definitions, Environments and Microbiology

NPTEL Web Course

Relevant Microorganisms
Microorganisms that are known to cause corrosion can be grouped as shown in Table
24.3.
Table 24.3 Microorganisms involved in MIC

1.

Bacteria

Sulphate Reducing Bacteria (SRB)

Desulfovibrio
Sulphur Oxidising and acid producing bacteria.
Acidithiobacillus
Iron

Oxidising

Bacteria

(IOB)

and

metal

depositing bacteria
Gallionella, Crenothrix, Leptothrix
Metal reducing bacteria
Pseudomonas, Shewanella..

2.

Fungi

Cladosporium resinae
Aspergillus niger
Aspergillus fumigatus
Penicillium cyclospium
Paecilomyces varioti

3.

Algae

Blue green algae

4.

Microbial

Symbiotic activity among different groups of

consortia

microorganisms

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Course Title: Advances in Corrosion Engineering
Course Co-ordinator: Prof. K. A. Natarajan, IISc Bangalore

Lecture 24: MIC Definitions, Environments and Microbiology

NPTEL Web Course

The sulphur cycle in nature is important to MIC. Sulphur and sulfide oxidising and
sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB) are involved in a number of biogenic redox
reactions leading to products such as H2S, metal sulphides and sulfoxy compounds.
All these microbially - intermediated processes participate in corrosion processes in
soils and aqueous environments.

For example, sulphate reducing bacteria like

Desulfovibrio reduce sulphate to sulphide and hydrogen sulphide, under reducing

conditions.
SO=4 + 4H2 S= + 4H2O
2H+ + S- - = H2S
Sulphur (sulphide) oxidizing and sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB) involved in the
biological sulphur cycle in natural environments are shown in Fig. 24.1.

Fig. 24.1 Biological sulphur cycle in nature

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Course Title: Advances in Corrosion Engineering
Course Co-ordinator: Prof. K. A. Natarajan, IISc Bangalore

Lecture 24: MIC Definitions, Environments and Microbiology

NPTEL Web Course

Sulphur and ferrous iron-oxidising bacteria such as Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and

Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans are acidophilic and aerobic promoting oxidation of
sulfur and sulfides.
2H2S + 2O2 = H2S2O3 + H2O
5Na2S2O3 + 8O2 + H2O = 5Na2SO4 + H2SO4 + 4S
4S + 6O2 + 4H2O = 4H2SO4
Fe++ = Fe+++ + e

Acidithiobacillus bacteria can exist over a range of pH from acidic, to alkaline

conditions. For example, Thiobacillus thioparus could oxidise sulphur, sulphide and
thiosulphate at a pH of 6-10.

Microbiological features of some thio-bacteria

involved in MIC are illustrated in Table 24.4.

Morphological features of some bacteria implicated in MIC along with typical

growth curves are illustrated in Fig 24.2 to 24.11.
All these bacteria are implicated in microbial corrosion processes and their growth
characteristics and metabolic reactions are important in understanding corrosion
mechanisims.

No.of Cells / mL

10

10

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Time (hours)

Fig 24.2 Bacillus

Cell number as a function of time

during growth of Bacillus subtilis

Fig. 24.3

subtilis

6x10

1.8

5x10

1.6

4x10

3x10

1x10

EESE
Sulphate
concentration

1.4
1.2
1.0

0.8
0.6

0
0

20

40

60

80

100

Time (min)

120

140

160

0
-50
-100
-150
-200
-250

EESE in mv

Course Title: Advances in Corrosion Engineering

Course Co-ordinator: Prof. K. A. Natarajan, IISc Bangalore
2x10

cell count

sulphate concentration(g/L)

Number of cells/ml

50

Lecture 24: MIC Definitions, Environments and Microbiology

NPTEL Web Course

Fig 24.5 Cell number, SO4 conc and ESCE as a

function of time during growth of Sulphate reducing
bacteria

4.0x10

2.3

450

2.2
2.1
Cell count
pH
2.0
ESCE
1.9

400
350

8
6
Fe3+
Fe2+

4
2
0

300

10

Time (hours)

40

50

2.1
1.8

8.0x10

24
20

pH

1.5

6.0x10

pH

1.2

16

Sulphate conc.

4.0x10

0.9

2.0x10

0.6

0.0
50

100

150

200

250

300

Time (Hours)

Fig. 24.10 Cell number as a function of

time during growth of At. thiooxidans

0
0

50

100

150

200

250

Time (Hours)

Fig. 24.11 pH & SO4 conc. as a

function of time during growth
of At. thiooxidans

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Course Title: Advances in Corrosion Engineering
Course Co-ordinator: Prof. K. A. Natarajan, IISc Bangalore

12
8

0.3

Fig. 24.9 Acidithiobacillus

thiooxidans

70

28

Cell count

1.0x10

60

Fig 24.8 Ferrous and ferric concentration

as a function of time during growth of
At.ferrooxidans

1.2x10

Number of cells / mL

30

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Fig 24.7 Cell number, pH, ESCE as a

function of time during growth of
Acidithiobacllus sp

Fig. 24.6
Acidithiobacillus Sp

20

Time (hours)

250

Sulphate concentration (g / L)

500

3+

8.0x10

2.4

and Fe conc (g / L)

1.2x10

550

2+

1.6x10

10

2.5

Fe

ESCE in mV

2.0x10

pH

No.of cells / mL

Fig 24.4 Sulphate reducing bacteria

Lecture 24: MIC Definitions, Environments and Microbiology

NPTEL Web Course

Fig. 24.12 to Fig. 24.14, illustrate typical morphological features of fungi such as
Cladosporium and Aspergillus besides those of an iron and manganese oxidizing
bacteria.

Fig. 24. 12 Cladosporium

resinae

Fig. 24.13
Aspergillus spp

Fig 24.14
Gallionella spp

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Course Title: Advances in Corrosion Engineering
Course Co-ordinator: Prof. K. A. Natarajan, IISc Bangalore

Lecture 24: MIC Definitions, Environments and Microbiology

NPTEL Web Course

Morphological features of Aspergillus,SRB and Acidithiobacllus are more

revealingly illustrated in Fig. 24.15.

Fig. 24.15 Morphological features of Aspergillus fungal network, SRB with flagellum, Acidithiobacillus and SRB
colonizing a steel surface.

11
Course Title: Advances in Corrosion Engineering
Course Co-ordinator: Prof. K. A. Natarajan, IISc Bangalore

Lecture 24: MIC Definitions, Environments and Microbiology

NPTEL Web Course

Table 24.4 Microbiological features of some thio-bacteria

Organism

Environment

Activity

Desulfovibrio desulfuricans

Mud, sewage oil wells,

Anerobic, sulphate

(Sulphate reducing)

subsoil

reduction, pH 6-7.5,
Temp. 25-300C (some
moderate thermophiles)

Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans

Sulphur and iron

Anerobic, pH2 4,

Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

bearing minerals, soils

28 35oC, oxidizes

and water

sulphur, sulphides
producing sulphuric acid,
Ferrous to ferric
oxidation.

Thiobacillus Thioparus

Water, mud, sludge,

Aerobic pH 6-8,

sulphidic soils

30-350C, oxidises
thiosulphate and sulphur
to sp.

From the sulfur-bacteria cycle, bacterial oxidation and reduction cycles involving
sulfur species are evident.

Both these redox concepts are important in MIC

mechanisms.

12
Course Title: Advances in Corrosion Engineering
Course Co-ordinator: Prof. K. A. Natarajan, IISc Bangalore