Corrosion of carbon steel C1010 in the presence of iron oxidizing bacteria Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

In this study, corrosion behaviors of carbon steel C1010 in the presence of an acidophilic, iron-oxidizing bacterial species Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans were examined. Results showed that A. ferrooxidans cells, with or without attaching to C1010 steel, accelerated its corrosion at a rate of 3-6x those of acidic water, at a pH of 2, without cells. A. ferrooxidans oxidized Fe2+ to Fe3+ as an energy source and the produced Fe3+ rapidly oxidized Fe-0 to Fe2+ was proposed and verified as the reason. In addition, severe pitting corrosion was found on the C1010 steel surface in solutions containing A. ferrooxidans cells. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.