Iron-Oxidizing Bacteria: A Review of Corrosion Mechanisms in Fresh Water and Marine Environments

The sequence of biological, chemical and physical events that culminate in corrosion of carbon steel influenced by iron-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB) will be reviewed for both fresh water and marine environments.  The model for the FeOB influenced aggressive corrosion of 300 series stainless steels exposed to stagnant chlorinated drinking water developed in the 1980’s cannot be used to understand corrosion due to FeOB in all circumstances.