Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Inhibiting mild steel corrosion from sulfate-reducing bacteria using antimicrobial-producing biofilms in Three-Mile-Island process water

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Biofilms were used to produce gramicidin S (a cyclic decapeptide) to inhibit corrosion-causing, sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). In laboratory studies these biofilms protected mild steel 1010 continuously from corrosion in the aggressive, cooling service water of the AmerGen Three-Mile-Island (TMI) nuclear plant, which was augmented with reference SRB. The growth of both reference SRB (Gram-positive Desulfosporosinus orientis and Gram-negative Desulfovibrio vulgaris) was shown to be inhibited by supernatants of the gramicidin-S-producing bacteria as well as by purified gramicidin S. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and mass loss measurements showed that the protective biofilms decreased the corrosion rate of mild steel by 2- to 10-fold when challenged with the natural SRB of the TMI process water supplemented with D. orientis or D. vulgaris. The relative corrosion inhibition efficiency was 50–90% in continuous reactors, compared to a biofilm control which did not produce the antimicrobial gramicidin S. Scanning electron microscope and reactor images also revealed that SRB attack was thwarted by protective biofilms that secrete gramicidin S. A consortium of beneficial bacteria (GGPST consortium, producing gramicidin S and other antimicrobials) also protected the mild steel.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 6.
Fig. 7.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anonymous (1998) Multiple-tube fermentation technique for members of the coliform group. In: Greenberg AE, Clesceri LS, Eaton AD (eds) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, and Water Environment Federation, New York, 9-45–9-51

  • Azuma T, Harrison GI, Demain AL (1992) Isolation of a gramicidin S hyperproducing strain of B. brevis by use of a fluorescence activated cell sorting system. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 38:173–178

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beloglazov SM, Dzhafarov ZI, Polyakov VN, Demushin NN (1991) Quaternary ammonium salts as corrosion inhibitors of steel in the presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria. Prot Met (USSR) 27:810–813

    Google Scholar 

  • Borenstein SW (1994) Microbiologically influenced corrosion handbook. Woodhead, Cambridge, England

  • Chen M, Nagarajan V (1993) The role of signal peptide and mature protein in RNase (barnase) export from Bacillus subtilis Mol Gen Genet 239:409–415

    Google Scholar 

  • Cord-Ruwisch R, Kleinitz W, Widdel F (1987) Sulfate-reducing bacteria and their activities in oil production. J Petrol Technol 39:97–105

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Costerton JW, Geesey GG, Jones PA (1988) Bacterial biofilms in relation to internal corrosion monitoring and biocide strategies. Mater Perform 27:49–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Fontana MG (1986) Corrosion engineering, 3rd edn. McGraw-Hill, New York

  • Franklin MJ, Nivens DE, Vass AA, Mittelman MW, Jack RF, Dowling NJE, White DC (1991) Effect of chlorine and chlorine/bromine biocide treatments on the number and activity of biofilm bacteria and on carbon steel corrosion. Corrosion 47:128–134

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Friedrich CL, Moyles D, Beveridge TJ, Hancock REW (2000) Antibacterial action of structurally diverse cationic peptides on Gram-positive bacteria. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 44:2086–2092

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton WA (1985) Sulphate-reducing bacteria and anaerobic corrosion. Annu Rev Microbiol 39:195–217

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jayaraman A, Cheng ET, Earthman JC, Wood TK (1997a) Axenic aerobic biofilms inhibit corrosion of SAE 1018 steel through oxygen depletion. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 48:11–17

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jayaraman A, Cheng ET, Earthman JC, Wood TK (1997b) Importance of biofilm formation for corrosion inhibition of SAE 1018 steel by axenic aerobic biofilms. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 18:396–401

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jayaraman A, Hallock PJ, Carson RM, Lee C-C, Mansfeld FB, Wood TK (1999a) Inhibiting sulfate-reducing bacteria in biofilms on steel with antimicrobial peptides generated in situ. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 52:267–275

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jayaraman A, Mansfeld FB, Wood TK (1999b) Inhibiting sulfate-reducing bacteria in biofilms by expressing the antimicrobial peptides indolicidin and bactenecin. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 22:167–175

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jayaraman A, Örnek D, Duarte DA, Lee C-C, Mansfeld FB, Wood TK (1999c) Axenic aerobic biofilms inhibit corrosion of copper and aluminum. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 52:787–790

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Licina GJ (1988) Sourcebook for microbiologically influenced corrosion in nuclear power plants RP2812-2. Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, Calif.

  • Little B, Ray R (2002) A perspective on corrosion inhibition by biofilms. Corrosion 58:424–428

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maniatis T, Fritsch EF, Sambrook J (1982) Molecular cloning: a laboratory manual. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mansfeld F (1976) The polarization resistance technique for measuring corrosion currents. In: Fontana MG, Staehle RW(eds) Advances in corrosion science and technology. Plenum Press, New York, 163–262

  • Mansfeld F (1995) Use of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for the study of corrosion protection by polymer coatings. J Appl Electrochem 25:187–202

    Google Scholar 

  • Mansfeld F, Tsai CH, Shih H (1992) Software for simulation and analysis of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data. ASTM Spec Tech Publ 1154:186–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller JDA (1981) Metals. In: Rose AH (ed) Microbial biodeterioration. Academic Press, New York, 149–202

  • Nagarajan V, Albertson H, Chen M, Ribbe J (1992) Modular expression and secretion vectors for Bacillus subtilis. Gene 114:121–126

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Odom JM (1990) Industrial and environmental concerns with sulfate-reducing bacteria. ASM News 56:473–476

    Google Scholar 

  • Paddon CJ, Vasantha N, Hartley RW (1989) Translation and processing of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens extracellular RNase. J Bacteriol 171:1185–1187

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pankhurst ES (1968) Significance of sulphate-reducing bacteria to the gas industry: a review. J Appl Bacteriol 31:179–193

    Google Scholar 

  • Potekhina JS, Sherisheva NG, Povetkina LP, Pospelov AP, Rakitina TA, Warnecke F, Gottschalk G (1999) Role of microorganisms in corrosion inhibition of metals in aquatic habitats. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 52:639–646

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Romeo D, Skerlavaj B, Bolognesi M, Gennaro R (1988) Structure and bactericidal activity of an antibiotic dodecapeptide purified from bovine neutrophils. J Biol Chem 263:9573–9575

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wu X-C, Lee W, Tran L, Wong S-L (1991) Engineering a Bacillus subtilis expression-secretion system with a strain deficient in six extracellular proteases. J Bacteriol 173:4952–4958

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L, Rozek A, Hancock REW (2001) Interaction of cationic antimicrobial peptides with model membranes. J Biol Chem 276:35714–35722

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This project was supported by the Electric Power Research Institute (Contract EP-P5388-C2665).

Author information

Author notes

  1. D. Örnek

    Present address: Genzyme Corporation, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Chemical Engineering & Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269–3222, USA

    R. Zuo, D. Örnek & T. K. Wood

  2. Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA 94304–1395, USA

    B. C. Syrett

  3. TMI Nuclear Generation Station, PO Box 480, Middletown, PA 17057, USA

    R. M. Green

  4. Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089–0241, USA

    C.-H. Hsu & F. B. Mansfeld

Authors
  1. R. Zuo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. Örnek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. B. C. Syrett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R. M. Green
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. C.-H. Hsu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. F. B. Mansfeld
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. T. K. Wood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. K. Wood.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zuo, R., Örnek, D., Syrett, B.C. et al. Inhibiting mild steel corrosion from sulfate-reducing bacteria using antimicrobial-producing biofilms in Three-Mile-Island process water. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 64, 275–283 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-003-1403-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-003-1403-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation