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Biocorrosion and Its Impact on Carbon Steel API 5LX by Bacillus subtilis A1 and Bacillus cereus A4 Isolated From Indian Crude Oil Reservoir

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Abstract

Biocorrosion is a frequent problem in oil and gas industry that occurs due to the ubiquitous nature of the microorganisms. The main objective of this study is to identify corrosive bacterial strains from crude oil reservoir samples and elucidation of their role in the biocorrosion of carbon steel API 5LX. Pure bacterial strains were identified using both biochemical and 16S rRNA gene sequencing methods. Identified dominant strains were subjected to weight loss and electrochemical studies. The Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis A1 and Bacillus cereus A4 were identified as dominant species. Corrosion rates were 0.743, 0.594 and 0.297 mm/year in the presence of strain B. subtilis A1, B. cereus A4 and abiotic control system, respectively. The charge transfer resistance values show a continuous decrease in the presence of bacterial culture indicating that formation of the heterogeneous biofilm and iron oxide over the metal surface leads to the corrosion phenomenon. Surface analysis techniques including X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy examination reveal the ability of bacteria to oxidize iron/manganese to their corresponding oxides, leading to the formation of thick biofilm on metal surface and accelerating the pitting corrosion of carbon steel.

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Acknowledgements

A. Rajasekar was thankful to the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, for the award of Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowship (BT/RLF/Re-entry/17/2012), Science and Engineering Research Board, Department of Science and Technology (SB/YS/LS-40/2013 and EEQ/2016/000449) and University Grants Commission-MRP (MRP-MAJOR-MICRO-2013-31825) for the financial supports. Authors also acknowledge the help received from Dr. Ting Yen-Peng and Ms. R. Tulasiya on surface analysis (AFM), and Dr. J. Madhavan, Dr. J. Theerthagiri, Dr. R.A. Senthil, Department of Chemistry, Thiruvalluvar University (TVU), electrochemical studies and related discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Molecular Microbiology Research Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Thiruvalluvar University, Serkkadu, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632 115, India

    Punniyakotti Parthipan & Aruliah Rajasekar

  2. Doctor DNA Dx, 318A-Anchorvale, Sengkang, Singapore, 541301, Singapore

    Thambidurai Ganesh Babu

  3. Corrosion Science and Technology Division, Metallurgy and Materials Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, 603102, India

    Balakrishnan Anandkumar

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  1. Punniyakotti Parthipan
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Correspondence to Aruliah Rajasekar.

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Parthipan, P., Babu, T.G., Anandkumar, B. et al. Biocorrosion and Its Impact on Carbon Steel API 5LX by Bacillus subtilis A1 and Bacillus cereus A4 Isolated From Indian Crude Oil Reservoir. J Bio Tribo Corros 3, 32 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40735-017-0091-2

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