When a metal specimen is exposed to water, microbes present in the water start adhering to its surface. Initially, these bacteria may adhere nonspecifically to the surface via extracellular polymers, and continuous production of these polymers enhances the adhesion of other bacteria. The continuation of this process leads to the development of a thick biofilm in which large number of cells ar e embedded. Local environmental variations within the biofilm favor the growth of organisms in a particular microfiches, or anaerobic and aerobic environments. Oxygen consumption by aerobic bacteria living on the surface of the biofilm leads to the creation of an anaerobic space for the growth of anaerobic bacteria, such as sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) occurs as a consequence of biofilm formation, which leads to the formation of oxygen concentration gradients and differential aeration cells on the metal surface.
抄録全体を表示