# Distinguishing the Contribution of Extracellular Electron Transfer in the Desulfovibrio caledoniensis-Induced Total Corrosion of Q235 Carbon Steel

## TL;DR

This study investigates how much of the corrosion on steel is caused by bacteria transferring electrons outside their cells, finding that this process contributes significantly to overall corrosion.

## Contribution

The study quantifies the contribution of extracellular electron transfer to total corrosion for the first time in Desulfovibrio caledoniensis-induced MIC.

## Key findings

- EMIC contributes approximately 27.69% to total MIC under 100% carbon source conditions.
- In 1% carbon source conditions, EMIC's contribution increases to 37.68% despite lower overall corrosion rates.
- Biofilm on steel electrodes enhances cathodic reactions, confirming biocatalytic activity.

## Abstract

Microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) in anaerobic environments accounts for many severe failures and losses in different industries. Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) represent a typical class of corrosive microorganisms capable of acquiring electrons from steel through extracellular electron transfer processes, thereby inducing severe electrical microbially influenced corrosion (EMIC). Although prior research has underscored the significance of extracellular electron transfer, the contribution of EMIC to the whole MIC has not been comprehensively studied. In this study, Q235 steel coupons were employed in an H-shaped electrochemical cell to conduct electrochemical and coupon immersion experiments, aiming to determine the contribution of EMIC to the overall MIC. The experiments were conducted under two distinct carbon source conditions: 100% carbon source (CS) and 1% CS environments. It was observed that the biotic electrodes exhibited significantly higher cathodic currents, with the most pronounced biological cathodic activity detected in the 100% CS biotic medium. The voltammetric responses of the electrodes before and after changes in the medium confirmed the biocatalytic capability of the attached biofilm in stimulating the cathodic reaction. The proportion of EMIC in MIC was calculated using linear polarization resistance, revealing a trend over time. Additionally, weight loss tests indicated that the contribution of EMIC to the total MIC was approximately 27.69%. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that while the overall corrosion rate was lower in the 1% CS environment, the proportion of EMIC in MIC increased to approximately 37.68%.