Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Anaerobic corrosion by sulfate-reducing bacteria due to a highly-reactive volatile phosphorus compound. Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5175515
Anaerobic corrosion by sulfate-reducing bacteria appears to be caused by a highly active volatile phosphorus compound, which reacts with bulk iron to form iron phosphide. Preliminary evidence also indicates that the phosphorus compound may also be produced by the direct action of bacterially produced hydrogen sulfide on inorganic phosphorus compounds. Accordingly, any organism that produces hydrogen sulfide, under anaerobic conditions, in the presence of certain phosphorus compounds should stimulate the anaerobic corrosion of iron, providing the iron does not have a film of iron sulfide present. In addition to formation of the phosphorus compound and the metabolic production of hydrogen sulfide by sulfate-reducing organisms, methylmercaptan and dimethyldisulfide are produced. These compounds were relatively non-corrosive to iron.
Research Organization:
National Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC (USA)
OSTI ID:
5175515
Report Number(s):
PB-84-136423
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English