CORROSION INHIBITION OF STEEL BY BACTERIA

Mild steel was exposed to Pseudomonas sp. S9 or Serratia marcescens in synthetic seawater. An increase in corrosion resistance over that in natural seawater was monitored by electrochemical techniques. Biologic al analyses were performed to characterize the system. The inhibition effect also was observed when mild steel was coated with bacteria and then immersed in synthetic seawater. When specimens coated with bacter ia were transferred to a natural seawater flow system, the inhibition effect disappeared during the first 2 weeks.