The influence of sulphate-reducing bacteria biofilm on the corrosion of stainless steel AISI 316

This work investigates microbially-influenced corrosion (MIC) of stainless steel AISI 316 by two sulphate-reducing bacteria, Desulfovibrio desulfuricans and a local marine isolate. The biofilm and pit morphology that developed with time were analyzed using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results were interpreted with an equivalent circuit to model the physicoelectric characteristics of the electrode/biofilm/solution interface. D. desulfuricans formed one biofilm layer on the metal surface, while the marine isolate formed two layers: a biofilm layer and a ferrous sulfide deposit layer. AFM images corroborated results from the EIS modeling which showed biofilm attachment and subsequent detachment over time.