Electrochemical studies of microbiologically influenced corrosion of X80 steel by nitrate-reducing Bacillus licheniformis under anaerobic conditions

In this work, the impact of a wild-type nitrate-reducing Bacillus licheniformis strain on the corrosion behavior of X80 steel under anaerobic conditions was studied by electrochemical tests and biofilm characterization. The bioelectrochemical, electrochemical, and chemical reactions between X80 steel and microorganisms were investigated comprehensively. The results show that B. licheniformis can accelerate the corrosion of X80 steel substrate in early immersing by two ways: biocatalytic cathodic nitrate reduction and acidification induced by bacterially-secreted acids. However, the corrosion rate of X80 steel decreased after immersing for ca. 1 week in B. licheniformis culture due to iron biomineralization. This work provides direct insights into the mechanism of microbiologically influenced corrosion of carbon steel by the nitrate-reducing bacterium.