AN OVERVIEW OF MICROBIOLOGICALLY INFLUENCED CORROSION

Biofilms on metal surfaces produce an environment at the biofilm/metal interface that is radically different from that of the bulk medium in terms of pH, dissolved oxygen, organic and inorganic species. The term microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is used to designate corrosion due to the presence and activities of microorganisms within biofilms. In this review we have correlated electrochemical reactions to the activities of microorganisms to show that microorganisms can accelerate rates of partial reactions in corrosion processes or alter the corrosion mechanism.