A closed-loop sidestream system has been developed that successfully simulates conditions in service water facilities. The closed-loop operation avoids possible ground loop problems associated with
electrochemical measurements and permits the investigation of biological corrosion treatments prior to approval for use in the target water system. Experiments were performed with 1018 mild steel samples placed in different positions (top, side and bottom of a horizontal pipe) under different flow conditions. Preliminary data from mass loss measurements indicate that initial corrosion is greater in stagnant water in the bottom coupon position than for the top or side positions, and equivalent to that for coupons subjected to a flow rate of 0.9 m/s (3ft/s). The higher corrosion rate observed for the bottom coupon may in part be a result of increased microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) since DC polarization measurements for stagnant conditions is suggestive of MIC. SEM observations, combined with confocal microscopy, indicate microbes between the metal coupon surface and oxide layers. KEYWORDS: Biofllm, aerobic/anaerobic bacteria, MIC, corrosion, DC polarization.