The Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion and Protection of Pipelines: A Detailed Review

Microbial corrosion is the deterioration of materials associated with microorganisms in environments, especially in oil- and gas-dominated sectors. It has been widely reported to cause great losses to industrial facilities such as drainage systems, sewage structures, food-processing equipment, and oil and gas facilities. Generally, bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms are the most important microorganisms associated with microbial corrosion. The destructive nature of these microorganisms differs based on the kind of bacteria involved in the corrosion mechanism. Amongst the microorganisms related to microbial corrosion, sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) is reported to be the most common harmful bacteria. The detailed mechanistic explanations relating to the corrosion of pipelines by sulfate-reducing bacteria are discussed. The mechanism of microbial corrosion in pipelines showing the formation of pitting corrosion and cathodic depolarization is also reported. The current review provides theoretical information for the control and protection of pipelines caused by microbial corrosion and how new eco-friendly protection methods could be explored.