Influence of respiratory substrate in carbon steel corrosion by a Sulphate Reducing Prokaryote model organism

• Sulphide concentration in solution is a key factor in the biocorrosion rate.
• Nitrate presence increases the uniform biocorrosion rate.
• EPS corrosiveness is remarkably influenced by the respiratory substrate.

Sulphate Reducing Prokaryotes (SRP) are an important group of microorganisms involved in biocorrosion processes. Sulphide production is recognized as a fundamental cause of corrosion and nitrate is often used as treatment. The present work analyses the influence of respiratory substrates in the metal, from off-shore installations, SRP influenced corrosion, using Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ATTC 27774 as model organism, since this can switch from sulphate to nitrate. Open Circuit Potential over 6 days in different conditions was measured, showing an increase around 200 and 90 mV for the different media. Tafel plots were constructed allowing Ecorr and jcorr calculations. For SRP in sulphate and nitrate media Ecorr values of − 824 and − 728 mV, and jcorr values of 2.5 and 3.7 μAcm− 2, respectively, were attained indicating that in nitrate, the resultant corrosion rate is larger than in sulphate. Also, it is shown that the equilibrium of sulphide in the solution/gas phases is a key factor to the evolution of corrosion Nitrate prevents pitting but promotes general corrosion and increases the corrosion potential and iron dissolution 40 times when compared to sulphate. Our results demonstrate that nitrate injection strategy in oil fields has to be considered carefully as option to reduce souring and localized corrosion.