Iron corrosion activity of anaerobic hydrogen-consuming microorganisms isolated from oil facilities

Iron corrosion activity of anaerobic hydrogen-consuming microorganisms isolated from oil facilities

Acetogen

Iron corrosion

Methanogen

Sulfate-reducing bacterium

The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that anaerobic hydrogen-consuming microorganisms generally promote iron corrosion. We isolated 26 hydrogen-consuming microorganisms (acetogens, sulfate-reducing bacteria, and methanogens) from oil facilities in Japan using hydrogen as an electron donor. The iron corrosion activities of these microorganisms were examined using iron (Fe0) granules as the sole electron donor. Almost all the isolates consumed hydrogen that was chemically generated from iron granules but did not induce significant iron corrosion. The amount of corroded iron in the cultures of these organisms was less than 2-fold that in an abiotic chemical corrosion reaction. These results indicated that hydrogen consumption did not strongly stimulate iron corrosion. On the other hand, one isolate, namely, Methanococcus maripaludis Mic1c10, considerably corroded iron: this phenomenon was not accompanied by hydrogen consumption, methane formation, or cell growth. This finding also provided strong evidence that M. maripaludis Mic1c10 produced some material that caused iron to corrode.

Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering

2010-10-01

Mori, Koji

Tsurumaru, Hirohito

Harayama, Shigeaki

Journal Article

WMIV82DR

1389-1723

10.1016/j.jbiosc.2010.04.012