Corrosion behavior of X80 pipeline steel in the presence of Brevibacterium halotolerans in Beijing soil

Abstract

In this study, the corrosion behavior of X80 pipeline steel in the presence of Brevibacterium halotolerans (B. halotolerans) was investigated by surface analysis and electrochemical measurements. Results show that B. halotolerans can attach to the surface of X80 steel, and the entire surface is covered with B. halotolerans. The corrosion products induced by B. halotolerans were FeOOH, Fe₂O₃ and FeSO₄. X80 steel corrosion was accelerated in the presence of B. halotolerans and was susceptible to pitting corrosion. The formation of pitting corrosion could be due that the B. halotolerans oxidization of elemental iron in X80 steel to either obtain electrons from the reduction of nitrate in the underlying biofilm or in the damaged corrosion product film.

Keywords: Biofilm; Brevibacterium halotolerans; Nitrate-reducing bacteria (NRB); Pitting corrosion; X80 pipeline steel.