microorganisms enhance corrosion by their activitie

Recent research shows that certain microorganisms enhance corrosion by their activities (Baker and Fessler 13). The two categories of such microorganisms “are sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and acid-producing bacteria (APB)” (Baker and Fessler 13). Cathodic shielding currents often yield gases such as hydrogen. Bacteria use up these gases thereby encouraging exterior corrosion by destroying the polarity of the pipes. These bacteria can also create acidic biofilms, which entrap electrolytes and acids, inside pipelines. Microbiologically influenced corrosion occurs mostly in liquid pipelines compared to gas pipelines.