This work is a comprehensive study of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of carbon steel in soil environments, induced by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). Four experimental phases were involved in this research: (1) field study, (2) anaerobic corrosion study, (3)localized corrosion study, (4) mathematical modeling of cathodic protection (CP) current/potential distribution. Based on the field survey and statistical approach, the predicting equation for the maximum corrosion depth of steel in soil was presented and it was proved that the predicted values were well matched with the field data. The contribution of microbial factors on soil corrosion was also discussed. It was also concluded that thepresence of SRB and the resultant biogenic iron sulfide film on steel surface greatly changed themetal/electrolyte interface properties, and therefore the corrosion behavior of steel from anaerobic study. Using the thin-film electrical resistance (TFER) sensors, it was possible to detect and monitor the localized corrosion behavior induced by SRB. The mathematical model using the boundary element method (BEM) is capable of predicting (1) local potential; and (2) local cathodic current density inside crevice for a given applied holiday potential and soil resistivity. The model predicted a very short depth of current penetration depending on the crevice geometry. From the results of modeling and the following regression analysis, the optimization plots for cathodic protection inside crevie under the disbonded coating was proposed, which makes it possible to predict the current penetration depth.
Keywords: microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC), sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), anaerobic soil, thin-film electrical resistance (TFER) sensor, cathodic protection (CP), disbonded coating, current distribution