Biocorrosion of stainless steel 316 in seawater: Inhibition using an azole type derivative

Abstract

Corrosion inhibition of stainless steel 316 (SS316) by 2- methylbenzimidazole (MBI) in sterile enriched artificial seawater and seawater with sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB) was investigated using direct current polarisation, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy and atomic force microscopy. It is shown that MBI is an effective inhibitor in controlling the abiotic corrosion of SS316 and as well as biocorrosion by two strains of SRB (i.e. Desulfovibrio desulfuricans and Desulfovibrio singaporenus). The MBI effectively inhibits biocorrosion of SS316 by both D. desulfuricans and D. singaporenus, with >90% inhibition efficiency. © 2012 Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.