Preconditioning of AISI 304 stainless steel surfaces in the presence of flavins—Part II: Effect on biofilm formation and microbially influenced corrosion processes

Biofilm formation and microbially influenced corrosion of the iron-reducing microorganism Shewanella putrefaciens were investigated on stainless steel surfaces preconditioned in the absence and presence of flavin molecules by means of XANES (X-ray absorption near-edge structure) analysis and electrochemical methods. The results indicate that biofilm formation was promoted on samples preconditioned in electrolytes containing minute amounts of flavins. On the basis of the XANES results, the corrosion processes are controlled by the iron-rich outer layer of the passive film. Biofilm formation resulted in a cathodic shift of the open circuit potential and a protective effect in terms of pitting corrosion. The samples preconditioned in the absence of flavins have shown delayed pitting and the samples preconditioned in the presence of flavins did not show any pitting in a window of −0.3- to +0.0-V overpotential in the bacterial medium. The results indicate that changes in the passive film chemistry induced by the presence of minute amounts of flavins during a mild anodic polarization can change the susceptibility of stainless steel surfaces to microbially influenced corrosion.     

Novel Gemini Cationic Surfactants: Thermodynamic,Antimicrobial Susceptibility,and Corrosion Inhibition Behavior against Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

The Egyptian oil and gas industry is suffering from severe metal corrosion problems, particularly microbial-induced corrosion. There is limited knowledge on the corrosion inhibition of carbon steels in the presence of an acidophilic, iron-oxidizing bacterial species Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Therefore, in this study, novel Gemini cationic surfactants, in three forms depending on variation in alkyl chains of 8, 12, and 16 carbon atoms named FHPAO, FHPAD, and FHPAH, respectively, were synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The surface parameters and the thermodynamic of the synthesized surfactants were evaluated at three different temperatures, 20, 40, and 60 °C. The synthesized Gemini cationic surfactants were tested as broad-spectrum antimicrobial, antibacterial and anticandida agents. They evaluated as biocides and corrosion inhibitors against Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. FHPAD showed higher adsorption ability at the solution interface and higher affinity to construct micelles than FHPAO and FHPAH. Both adsorption and micellization processes were hydrophobic and temperature dependent. FHPAO, FHPAD and FHPAH exhibited wide-spectrum antimicrobial activities, and the highest activity and the lowest minimum bactericidal/fungicidal inhibitory concentrations were attributed to FHPAD. Furthermore, synthesized FHPAD demonstrated the highest metal corrosion inhibition efficiency of 95.5% at 5 mM in comparison to 87.5% and 81.7% for FHPAO and FHPAH, respectively. In conclusion, this study provides novel synthesized cationic surfactants with many applications in the oil and gas industry, such as broad-spectrum antimicrobial, biocides, and corrosion inhibitors for acidophilic, iron-oxidizing bacterial species Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans.     

火焰法制备Al/MoO3纳米片阵列的影响因素

亚稳态分子间复合物(MIC)阵列由于具有高能量密度、小尺寸条件下能自持反应的优点,在集成化火工品方面具有潜在的应用价值。采用火焰法在硅基底上原位制备了高度有序的MoO₃纳米片阵列,探讨了基底材料、纳米阵列生长时间、火焰源因素对生成MoO₃形貌的影响,得到了 MoO₃纳米片阵列的优化制备工艺条件: 以硅片为基底,生长时间为5 min和甲烷为火焰源。制备的纳米片厚度为100~200 nm,宽度约5 μm,长度达到十几个微米。分别采用磁控溅射和热蒸发在MoO₃纳米片阵列表面镀铝得到Al/MoO₃ MIC阵列,在铝膜厚度相同的情况下,采用热蒸发镀铝方式优于磁控溅射。热蒸发铝膜厚度为900 nm时,所获得的Al/MoO₃ MIC阵列具有较高的放热量,达到3276 J·g-1。     

Polymer brush coatings for combating marine biofouling

A variety of functional polymer brushes and coatings have been developed for combating marine biofouling and biocorrosion with much less environmental impact than traditional biocides. This review summarizes recent developments in marine antifouling polymer brushes and coatings that are tethered to material surfaces and do not actively release biocides. Polymer brush coatings have been designed to inhibit molecular fouling, microfouling and macrofouling through incorporation or inclusion of multiple functionalities. Hydrophilic polymers, such as poly(ethylene glycol), hydrogels, zwitterionic polymers and polysaccharides, resist attachment of marine organisms effectively due to extensive hydration. Fouling release polymer coatings, based on fluoropolymers and poly(dimethylsiloxane) elastomers, minimize adhesion between marine organisms and material surfaces, leading to easy removal of biofoulants. Polycationic coatings are effective in reducing marine biofouling partly because of their good bactericidal properties. Recent advances in controlled radical polymerization and click chemistry have also allowed better molecular design and engineering of multifunctional brush coatings for improved antifouling efficacies.     

Ersatzneubau der Kajen im Marinestützpunkt Wilhelmshaven

Replacement construction of quays at the naval base in Wilhelmshaven At the naval base of Wilhelmshaven the quay walls and dolphins of a floating bridge system are being renewed. The existing quays show extensive damage and stability deficits. In particular, microbially induced corrosion (MIC) on the back of the old sheet piling lead to rust corrosion of the old sheet pile walls. Content of the report is the conceptual and structural implementation of the measure quay renewal that has been executed since the beginning of 2013. Special attention is paid to the security of the stock during the construction period, the selected corrosion protection measures as well as the requirements for the installation of combined sheet piling.     

海洋中石油烃类降解与微生物腐蚀关系研究

在工程实践中,国家重要的海洋工程设施（如海底输油管线和船舶燃料系统等）发生的腐蚀破坏案例常常涉及到油水环境,并与微生物腐蚀作用密切相关,而了解海洋含油环境中石油烃类的生物转换机制是了解微生物腐蚀的关键。阐述了海洋环境中降解石油烃类的主要微生物及其降解机制,其在有氧和无氧条件下呈现不同的特点。微生物降解石油烃类过程中非常重要的一步即为接受电子,该过程将生物无法直接利用的化学能转换成可直接利用的能量形式,即腺苷三磷酸（ATP）。有氧条件下的烃类降解以氧气作为最终电子受体,而在缺氧条件下可利用硝酸盐、铁离子、硫酸盐等作为电子受体。海洋环境中的石油烃类会促进腐蚀性硫化物的生成,因此油水环境下的微生物腐蚀机理以硫化物的腐蚀破坏为主。此外,烃类降解过程产生的琥珀酸等酸性中间代谢物也会加剧腐蚀的发生。但目前关于海洋油水环境中微生物群落作为一个整体展现出的功能性及其对钢铁设施的破坏机理,仍然缺乏系统性的研究,而基于高通量测序的微生物组学研究技术将成为有效解决这些问题的手段之一。     

Effects of nano-Ag on the combustion process of Al–CuO metastable intermolecular composite

Effects of nano-Ag with high thermal conductivity on the combustion wave behavior of Al–CuO MIC (metastable intermolecular composite) are studied in this paper by incorporating Al–CuO MIC with nano-Ag particles in different weight proportions. The physical and chemical characteristics of Al–CuO MIC are determined using scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The combustion wave behavior is identified by high-speed video recording (HSVR). The experimental observations confirm that the presence of nano-Ag particles improves the heat transfer efficiency. With nano-Ag increasing from 1 wt% to 10 wt%, the first exothermic peak temperature decreases from 607.8 °C to 567.6 °C, and average combustion speed (ACS) increases at first and then reduces. The most suitable amount of nano-Ag is 2 wt% with the ACS and instantaneous combustion velocity on the order of 954.0 m/s, 1562.5 m/s. Moreover, heat transfer mechanisms in the combustion process of Al–CuO MIC are better understood, especially by distinguishing conduction from convection during the combustion propagation. Furthermore, three stages (ignition, acceleration and steady combustion) of reactive propagation are observed in the combustion process. And the corresponding dominative heat transfer mechanisms in the three stages are conduction, conduction to convection transition, and convection, respectively.     

Metabolic turnover and catalase activity of biofilms of Pseudomonas fluorescens (ATCC 17552) as related to copper corrosion

In this work we report the results of a combined biochemical and electrochemical study aimed to analyze both the growth of biofilms of Pseudomonas fluorescens on copper samples and its possible role in the instability of the metal/electrolyte interface.DNA and RNA were quantified along the time for biofilms grown on copper and glass to estimate both the growth of the bacterial population and its metabolic state (through the RNA/DNA ratio). The expression and specific activity of catalase were also determined to gain insight into their possible role in corrosion acceleration. The electrochemical behavior of the biofilm/copper interface was monitored by Linear Polarization Resistance (Rp) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) along the experiments.Results showed a longer lag phase for biofilms developing on copper that included a period of high metabolic activity (as measured by the RNA/DNA ratio) without biomass growth. Biological activity introduced a new time constant at intermediate frequencies in EIS spectra whose capacitive behavior increased with the biofilm development. The increment in this biofilm-related signal was accompanied by a strong limitation to charge transfer through a diffusion controlled process probably due to oxygen exhaustion by cells respiration, while the resistance of the interface decreased presumably due to oxide dissolution by local acidification under the colonies. In addition, catalase activity was found to be high in mature copper-tolerant biofilms, which differentially express a catalase isoform not present in biofilms growing on glass.     

Corrosion of ferrous alloys in deep sea environments

Abstract

The deep sea corrosion of ferrous alloys that undergo uniform corrosion without forming a passive layer is related to the amount of dissolved ox ygen available in the sea water. The performance of some ferrous alloys at depths of 500, 1200, 3500, and 5100 m in the Indian Ocean has been studied. The results of atomic absorption spectroscopy have revealed that the corrosion product present on mild steel coupons is FeOOH. The results of experiments in shallow water have shown that micro- and macrobiological growths play a significant role in the corrosion of ferrous materials. However, in deeper waters, the absence of macrofouling was evident, and corrosion was not related to any biological product but mainly to the electrochemical reaction of these alloys with sea water. The results of morphological studies by SEM on the surfaces of ex posed specimens are also presented.