The stainless surface of 316L steel was ennobled to an Ecorr of +323 mVsce within a 5-day period due to the deposition of manganese oxides on the metal surface by a monospecies biofilm of L. discophora. The metal surface experienced only partial ennoblement, achieving a maximum potential of + 143 mVscE during the same period when colonized by a 3-species biofilm containing L. discophora. Even this level of ennoblement by the mixed-species biofilm was only transient since the potential decreased to + 122 mVsce shortly after achieving the maximum potential. The mixed-species biofilm was significantly thicker (>200 um) than the L. discophora monospecies biofilm (120 um). Using 16s rRNA probes specific for L. discophora, fluorescent in-situ hybridization revealed cells to be heterogeneously distributed throughout the monospecies biofilm. In the 3-species biofilm, 16s rRNA probes revealed a homogeneous layer ofL. discophora that resided proximal to the biofilm-bulk solution phase with very few to no L. discophora existing at the most distal position from the biofilm-bulk solution phase near the metal-biofilm interface. Microelectrode studies revealed the presence of oxygen (3.85 to 4.35 mg/L) at the monospecies-metal substratum interface in 50% of the areas of the substratum assayed. No oxygen was detected at the 3-species biofilm-metal interface where the thickness of the overlying biofilm exceeded 200 um. The results suggest that ennoblement of 316L stainless steel by L. discophora depends on oxygen accessibility to cells proximal to the substratum.
Keywords: microbiologically influenced corrosion, MIC, Fluorescent In-Situ Hybridization, FISH