Carbon steel under attack: microbial corrosion and emerging prevention techniques

Abstract

A cascade of chemical and biological events causes the breakdown of materials due to corrosion.  The intricate issue of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) impacts a wide range of sectors. The majority of the corrosion in oil gearbox systems, both internal and exterior, is caused by it. Although numerous hypotheses and models have been put out to account for MIC, our comprehension of how microorganisms interact with metal surfaces and the interpretation of microbial activity leading to biocorrosion remains limited. Carbon steel (CS) can experience pitting corrosion due to bio corrosion’s several pathways. Microorganisms can be either corrosive or anticorrosive, and both play an essential role in the corrosion process. Galvanization, anticorrosive microorganisms, plant and algae extracts are all viable options for MIC inhibition. Many chemicals that prevent corrosion in industrial settings are extremely harmful to human health. Green corrosion prevention methods are urgently required. Concerning this matter, scientists are concentrating on inhibitors based on metal coatings, bacterial biofilms, and natural extracts. Extracts from plants and algae have shown promise in dealing with various metals. A layer of nickel alloy on steel can prevent biocorrosion to a certain degree. CS is an essential metal with many industrial uses, and this study aims to learn more about its corrosion. Efforts to combat CS biocorrosion are scant. Approaches to managing biocorrosion in CS are the subject of this review.