Corrosion of carbon steel C1010 in the presence of iron oxidizing bacteria Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

In this study, corrosion behaviors of carbon steel C1010 in the presence of an acidophilic, iron-oxidizing bacterial species Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans were examined. Results showed that A. ferrooxidans cells, with or without attaching to C1010 steel, accelerated its corrosion at a rate of 3–6× those of acidic water, at a pH of 2, without cells. A. ferrooxidans oxidized Fe2+ to Fe3+ as an energy source and the produced Fe3+ rapidly oxidized...