Developing flow systems for monitoring initial stages of biofilm formation on microbiologically induced corrosion

The initial stages of microbial attachment and interaction with metal surfaces serve as a precursor to microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC).  MIC is one of the worst forms of corrosion for metals, and it is often most difficult to identify and correct.  This study intends to monitor the initiation and early stages of biofilm formation and MIC and to establish correlations of behaviors with microbial activities.  Flow chamber systems were developed to allow the in situ monitoring of biofilm development and its influences on corrosion and to generate more reproducible results as compared to the static systems.  In these initial studies, aluminum films, aluminum coupons and carbon steel coupons were utilized, along with two common biofilm bacterial strains, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and Escherichia coli.  Some preliminary correlations on biofilm development and MIC behaviors were obtained from the data collected using the flow system.  Monitoring MIC using flow chambers could potentially be a standard method for MIC evaluations.