Potential ennoblement for stainless steel in natural seawater was analyzed. Open circuit potentials (OCPs) of platinum, gold, palladium, chromium, titanium and nickel ennobled in natural seawater as well as stainless steel, SUS 304 (18Cr-8Ni). Potential ennoblement is not a specific event to only stainless steel. Marine biofilm clearly caused potential ennoblement. Cathodic polarization curves for the ennobled stainless steel elucidated that there were two distinct reduction current increases. One is the limited diffusion current of dissolved oxygen reduction below -500mV vs. Ag/AgCl (KClsat). The other reduction current around 0mV vs. Ag/AgCl (KClsat) was considered to be hydrogen peroxide reduction current in acidic condition. Synergistic effect of hydrogen peroxide and low pH in artificial seawater carried out high OCP of stainless steel like that in natural seawater. Therefore, we concluded that synergistic effect of hydrogen peroxide production and low pH by marine microorganisms is possible cause for potential ennoblement in natural seawater.
