Electrochemical Noise as an Indicator of Anaerobic Corrosion

Abstract

Anaerobic (bacterial) corrosion is an important cause of failures of underground structures such as pipelines. Pipeline failures could be prevented if better methods for determining the presence and location of areas of bacterial corrosion existed. A technique was developed which permits the detection and recording of rapid potential fluctuations (noise) produced in a corroding metal. It is believed that this noise is mainly caused by the breaking of protective films on the metal surface. Anaerobic bacterial corrosion also produces a type of noise, probably due to the breaking of iron sulfide films. Preliminary evidence indicates that detection and production of this noise on pipelines may offer promise in locating areas of microbial corrosion as well as other types of corrosion. Differences in the type of noise signal could enable differentiation between biological and nonbiological corrosion. Continuing studies should verify or reject these premises.

Novel porphyrin derivatives as corrosion inhibitors for stainless steel 304 in acidic environment: synthesis, electrochemical and quantum calculation studies

“…Measurements using MR have several practical uses 41 . It is the first technique for determining how corrosive an environment is to a particular substance.…”

Electrochemical Noise

“…Concrete [47-51, 87, 88] . Deposits of fouling and microbiology [57][58][59][60][61][89][90][91][92][93][94][95][96][97] . Water/oil mixtures in multiphase flow [98][99][100][101][102] .…”

Rauschmessungen an einer Anlage zur Aufbereitung industrieller Abwässer

“…Ihm gelang es, bei Feldversuchen an Pipelines mit Hilfe einer sehr einfachen Apparatur biologisch induzierte Korrosion nachzuweisen [18,19]. Seine Untersuchungen im Labor haben gezeigt, daû niedriglegierter Stahl in Seewasser in Gegenwart von sulfatreduzierenden Bakterien keine typischen Potentialtransienten zeigt, wenn Eisenionen in der Lo Èsung vorhanden sind.…”