Influence of Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria on the Corrosion Behavior of High Strength Steel EQ70 under Cathodic Polarization

Certain species of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) use cathodes as electron donors for metabolism, and this electron transfer process may influence the proper protection potential choice for structures. The interaction between SRB and polarized electrodes had been the focus of numerous investigations. In this paper, the impact of cathodic protection (CP) on Desulfovibrio caledoniens metabolic activity and its influence on highs trength steel EQ70 were studied by bacterial analyses and electrochemical measurements. The results showed that EQ70 under -0.85 V(SCE) CP had a higher corrosion rate than that without CP, while EQ70 with -1.05 V(SCE) had a lower corrosion rate. The enhanced SRB metabolic activity at -0.85 V(SCE) was most probably caused by the direct electron transfer from the electrode polarized at -0.85 V(SCE). This direct electron transfer pathway was unavailable in -1.05 V(SCE). In addition, the application of cathodic protection led to the transformation of sulfide rusts into carbonates rusts. These observations have been employed to provide updated recommendations for the optimum CP potential for steel structures in the presence of SRB.