Locating and Quantifying Carbon Steel Corrosion Rates Linked to Fungal B20 Biodiesel Degradation

2021 ◽

Author(s):

James G. Floyd ◽

Blake W. Stamps ◽

Wendy J. Goodson ◽

Bradley S. Stevenson

Keyword(s):

Carbon Steel ◽

Methyl Esters ◽

Fungal Growth ◽

Steel Corrosion ◽

The United States ◽

Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion ◽

Valuable Insight ◽

Storage Tanks ◽

Corrosion Rates ◽

Biodiesel Fuels

Fungi that degrade B20 biodiesel in storage tanks have also been linked to microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). A member of the filamentous fungal genus Byssochlamys , and a yeast from the genus Wickerhamomyces were isolated from heavily contaminated B20 storage tanks from multiple Air Force bases. Although these taxa were linked to microbiologically influenced corrosion in situ , precise measurement of their corrosion rates and pitting severity on carbon steel was not available. In the experiments described here, we directly link fungal growth on B20 biodiesel to higher corrosion rates and pitting corrosion of carbon steel under controlled conditions. When these fungi were growing solely on B20 biodiesel for carbon and energy, consumption of FAME and n-alkanes was observed. The corrosion rates for both fungi were highest at the interface between the B20 biodiesel and the aqueous medium, where they acidified the medium and produced deeper pits than abiotic controls. Byssochlamys produced the most corrosion of carbon steel and produced the greatest pitting damage. This study characterizes and quantifies the corrosion of carbon steel by fungi that are common in fouled B20 biodiesel through their metabolism of the fuel, providing valuable insight for assessing MIC associated with storage and dispensing B20 biodiesel. IMPORTANCE Biodiesel is widely used across the United States and worldwide, blended with ultralow sulfur diesel in various concentrations. In this study we were able to demonstrate that the filamentous fungi Byssochlamys AF004 and the yeast Wickerhamomyces SE3 were able to degrade fatty acid methyl esters and alkanes in biodiesel causing increases in acidity. Both fungi also accelerated the corrosion of carbon steel, especially at the interface of the fuel and water, where their biofilms were located. This research provides controlled, quantified measurements and the localization of microbiologically influenced corrosion caused by common fungal contaminants in biodiesel fuels.

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The effect of volatile organic acids and CO2 on the corrosion rate of carbon steel from a Top-of-Line-Corrosion (TLC) perspective

IOP Conference Series Materials Science and Engineering ◽

10.1088/1757-899x/1201/1/012079 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1201 (1) ◽

pp. 012079

Author(s):

S B Gjertsen ◽

A Palencsar ◽

M Seiersten ◽

T H Hemmingsen

Keyword(s):

Carbon Steel ◽

Corrosion Rate ◽

Organic Acid ◽

Carbonic Acid ◽

Acid Corrosion ◽

Iron Concentration ◽

Critical Factor ◽

Steel Corrosion ◽

Carbon Steels ◽

Corrosion Rates

Abstract Models for predicting top-of-line corrosion (TLC) rates on carbon steels are important tools for cost-effectively designing and operating natural gas transportation pipelines. The work presented in this paper is aimed to investigate how the corrosion rates on carbon steel is affected by acids typically present in the transported pipeline fluids. This investigation may contribute to the development of improved models. In a series of experiments, the corrosion rate differences for pure CO2 (carbonic acid) corrosion and pure organic acid corrosion (acetic acid and formic acid) on X65 carbon steel were investigated at starting pH values; 4.5, 5.3, or 6.3. The experiments were conducted in deaerated low-salinity aqueous solutions at atmospheric pressure and temperature of 65 °C. The corrosion rates were evaluated from linear polarization resistance data as well as mass loss and released iron concentration. A correlation between lower pH values and increased corrosion rates was found for the organic acid experiments. However, the pH was not the most critical factor for the rates of carbon steel corrosion in these experiments. The experimental results showed that the type of acid species involved and the concentration of the undissociated acid in the solution influenced the corrosion rates considerably.

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In situ Linkage of Fungal and Bacterial Proliferation to Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion in B20 Biodiesel Storage Tanks

Frontiers in Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fmicb.2020.00167 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Blake W. Stamps ◽

Caitlin L. Bojanowski ◽

Carrie A. Drake ◽

Heather S. Nunn ◽

Pamela F. Lloyd ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion ◽

Storage Tanks ◽

Bacterial Proliferation

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Linking Fungal and Bacterial Proliferation to Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion in B20 Biodiesel Storage Tanks

10.1101/399428 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Blake W. Stamps ◽

Caitlin L. Bojanowski ◽

Carrie A. Drake ◽

Heather S. Nunn ◽

Pamela F. Lloyd ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Methyl Esters ◽

Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion ◽

Storage Tanks ◽

Bacterial Populations ◽

Animal Fats ◽

Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel ◽

Fungal Populations ◽

Microbial Proliferation ◽

Low Sulfur

ABSTRACTBiodiesel is a renewable substitute, or extender, for petroleum diesel that is composed of a mixture of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) derived from plant and animal fats. Ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) blended with up to 20% FAME can be used interchangeably with ULSD, is compatible with existing infrastructure, but is also more susceptible to biodegradation. Microbial proliferation and fuel degradation in biodiesel blends has not been directly linked in situ to microbiologically influenced corrosion. We, therefore, conducted a yearlong study of B20 storage tanks in operation at two locations, identified the microorganisms responsible for observed fuel fouling and degradation, and measured in situ corrosion. The bacterial populations were more diverse than the fungal populations, and largely unique to each location. The bacterial populations included members of the Acetobacteraceae, Clostridiaceae, and Proteobacteria. The abundant Eukaryotes at both locations consisted of the same taxa, including a filamentous fungus within the family Trichocomaceae, and the Saccharomycetaceae family of yeasts. Increases in the absolute and relative abundances of the Trichocomaceae were correlated with significant, visible fouling and pitting corrosion. This study identified the relationship between recurrent fouling of B20 with increased rates of corrosion, largely at the bottom of the sampled storage tanks.

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In Situ Evaluation of Carbon Steel Corrosion under Salt Spray Test by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

Journal of The Electrochemical Society ◽

10.1149/1945-7111/ab9c85 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 167 (10) ◽

pp. 101508

Author(s):

Minoru Ito ◽

Azusa Ooi ◽

Eiji Tada ◽

Atsushi Nishikata

Keyword(s):

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy ◽

Carbon Steel ◽

Impedance Spectroscopy ◽

Electrochemical Impedance ◽

Salt Spray ◽

Steel Corrosion ◽

Salt Spray Test

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Bulk phase resource ratio alters carbon steel corrosion rates and endogenously produced extracellular electron transfer mediators in a sulfate-reducing biofilm

Biofouling ◽

10.1080/08927014.2019.1646731 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (6) ◽

pp. 669-683 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gregory P. Krantz ◽

Kilean Lucas ◽

Erica L.- Wunderlich ◽

Linh T. Hoang ◽

Recep Avci ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electron Transfer ◽

Carbon Steel ◽

Steel Corrosion ◽

Bulk Phase ◽

Extracellular Electron Transfer ◽

Sulfate Reducing ◽

Corrosion Rates

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Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion of Carbon Steel Exposed to Biodiesel

International Journal of Corrosion ◽

10.1155/2016/4308487 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-4 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

S. Malarvizhi ◽

Shyamala R. Krishnamurthy

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Carbon Steel ◽

Mass Loss ◽

Jatropha Curcas ◽

Fossil Fuels ◽

Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion ◽

Environmental Concerns ◽

Corrosion Rates ◽

Loss Method ◽

Conducive Environment

Environmental concerns over worsening air pollution problems caused by emissions from vehicles and depletion of fossil fuels have forced us to seek fuels such as biodiesel which can supplement petrofuels. Biodiesels have the ability to retain water and provide a conducive environment for microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) which may cause difficulties during transportation, storage, and their use. This paper analyses the influence of bacteria on the corrosivity of biodiesel obtained from Jatropha curcas on carbon steel using mass loss method. Carbon steel showed the highest corrosion rates in B100 (100% biodiesel) both in the presence and in absence of bacteria. The surface analysis of the metal was carried out using SEM.

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Neutrophilic Iron-Oxidizing “Zetaproteobacteria” and Mild Steel Corrosion in Nearshore Marine Environments

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.02095-10 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 77 (4) ◽

pp. 1405-1412 ◽

Cited By ~ 121

Author(s):

Joyce M. McBeth ◽

Brenda J. Little ◽

Richard I. Ray ◽

Katherine M. Farrar ◽

David Emerson

Keyword(s):

Mild Steel ◽

Steel Corrosion ◽

Small Subunit ◽

Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Uniform Corrosion ◽

Mild Steel Corrosion ◽

Laboratory Microcosm

ABSTRACTMicrobiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of mild steel in seawater is an expensive and enduring problem. Little attention has been paid to the role of neutrophilic, lithotrophic, iron-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB) in MIC. The goal of this study was to determine if marine FeOB related toMariprofundusare involved in this process. To examine this, field incubations and laboratory microcosm experiments were conducted. Mild steel samples incubated in nearshore environments were colonized by marine FeOB, as evidenced by the presence of helical iron-encrusted stalks diagnostic of the FeOBMariprofundus ferrooxydans, a member of the candidate class “Zetaproteobacteria.” Furthermore,Mariprofundus-like cells were enriched from MIC biofilms. The presence ofZetaproteobacteriawas confirmed using aZetaproteobacteria-specific small-subunit (SSU) rRNA gene primer set to amplify sequences related toM. ferrooxydansfrom both enrichments andin situsamples of MIC biofilms. Temporalin situincubation studies showed a qualitative increase in stalk distribution on mild steel, suggesting progressive colonization by stalk-forming FeOB. We also isolated a novel FeOB, designatedMariprofundussp. strain GSB2, from an iron oxide mat in a salt marsh. Strain GSB2 enhanced uniform corrosion from mild steel in laboratory microcosm experiments conducted over 4 days. Iron concentrations (including precipitates) in the medium were used as a measure of corrosion. The corrosion in biotic samples (7.4 ± 0.1 mM) was significantly higher than that in abiotic controls (5.0 ± 0.1 mM). These results have important implications for the role of FeOB in corrosion of steel in nearshore and estuarine environments. In addition, this work shows that the global distribution ofZetaproteobacteriais far greater than previously thought.

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