Effect of pH on anaerobic mild steel corrosion by methanogenic bacteria

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States)

OSTI ID:5409968

Boopathy, R; Daniels, L ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City (USA)

Methanogens can use H{sub 2} produced by cathodic depolarization-mediated oxidation of elemental iron to produce methane. Thermodynamic consideration of the cathodic depolarization mechanism predicts more oxidation of Fe{sup 0} at lower pH. Methanogenic responses to pH by Methanococcus deltae, Methanococcus thermolithotrophicus, and Methanosarcina barkeri were examined. When grown on H{sub 2}-CO{sub 2}, these bacteria had pH optima from 6.2 to 7.0, but when all H{sub 2} was supplied from Fe{sup 0}, methanogenic pH optima were lower, 5.4 to 6.5. Corrosion was monitored with and without cultures and at various pHs; more corrosion occurred when cultures were present, biologically induced corrosion was greatest at the pH optima for methanogenesis from Fe{sup 0}, and corrosion without cultures increased with a drop in pH.

• OSTI ID: 5409968
• Journal Information: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States), Journal Name: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States) Vol. 57:7; ISSN 0099-2240; ISSN AEMID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360105 -- Metals & Alloys-- Corrosion & Erosion
550500* -- Metabolism
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALLOYS
BACTERIA
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CORROSION
ELEMENTS
HYDROGEN
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
METABOLISM
METHANOGENIC BACTERIA
MICROORGANISMS
NONMETALS
OXIDATION
PH VALUE
STEELS
THERMODYNAMICS