Current Trends in Investigation of Concrete Biodeterioration

The issue of the building materials biodeterioration has a significant economic dimension because it results in the costly repair. The start and the course of corrosion are conditioned by many factors which undoubtedly include biological effects like the influence of vegetation and microorganisms causing the so called microbial corrosion. Microorganisms have also a considerable share in the decay and degradation of different building materials.This paper presents the results of the investigation of sulphate attack on concrete samples caused by simultaneous effect of sulphur-oxidising bacteria represented by Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and sulphate-reducing bacteria represented by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans. The experiments proceeded in model laboratory conditions as well as in situ in waste water in sewerage systems. The chemical composition changes of concrete samples, weight changes and changes in compressive strength were investigated.