A TECHNICAL REVIEW OF ELECTROCHEMICAL TECHNIQUES APPLIED TO MICROBIOLOGICALLY INFLUENCED CORROSION

A critical review of the literature concerned with the application of electrochemical techniques in the study of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is presented. The electrochemical techniques covered in this review include measurements of the corrosion potential, the redox potential, the polarization resistance, the electrochemical impedance, electrochemical noise, and polarization curves including pitting scans. For each experimental technique some discussion concerning experimental procedures, advantages and disadvantages of the technique for the study of MIC is presented. Applications range from studies of the corrosion of steel pipes in the presence of sulfate reducing bacteria to investigations of the formation of biofilms and calcareous deposits on stainless steels in seawater and the destruction of concrete pipes in sewers by microorganisms producing very low pH solutions. For each experimental technique at least one example for typical experimental data is presented.