sulfate-reducing bacteria
Corrosion by anaerobic sulfate-reducing bacteria, such as Desulfovibrio sp., are the bacteria most often considered when discussing microbial corrosion.
These organisms can seek out and colonize areas deficient in oxygen, such as those found within porous corrosion tubercles, within biofilms, and under debris.
These bacteria are responsible for rapid and severe metal loss in industrial water systems.
This type of corrosion is easily recognizable from the characteristic sulfide by-product present within the corrosion cell.
Sulfate reducing bacteria primarily cause corrosion by utilizing the molecular hydrogen produced at the cathode, thereby depolarizing it .
Since the rate of corrosion is under cathodic control, removal of cathodic reduction products will increase the rate of corrosion.
Systems that are sulfate limited will have less of a tendency to be attacked by SRB.
