Microbiologically influenced corrosion dynamics and technological innovations in monitoring and control

A major obstacle which turns the infrastructure upside down is corrosion. Corrosion that is caused by the activity of living organisms is one of the most significant and complicated problems that the metals and metal-based alloys industries have to deal with. In particular, corrosion due to microorganisms, or biocorrosion, has recently gained widespread attention as both a critical and complex issue. The microorganisms that are associated with corrosion are primarily responsible for its acceleration due to the production of biofilms, which are structured layers of bacteria, on the surface of the metal. Electrochemical reactions are among the various processes that evidence formation of corrosion pits, hairline cracks, and complete breakdown of the component. Nevertheless, the comprehension of microbial attachment mechanisms, biofilm development, and metal-microbe interaction is a prerequisite for control methods being devised. Traditional methods of counteracting Microbially Influenced Corrosion (MIC) include the application of biocide, material selection, cathodic protection, and surface coatings; however, these practices are often still confronted with the challenge of the environmental footprint, microbial resistance, and efficacy over time. Although there have been thorough investigations, the existing literature has not yet produced a unified conception that correlates microbial corrosion processes with the newly developed environment-friendly and technology-based methods for early detection, monitoring, and control, which are gradually coming into use. Therefore, the above-mentioned limitations have moderated the interest for advanced strategies such as the use of biofilm-resistant materials, ecologically safe inhibitors, disruption of quorum sensing, the application of electrical monitoring tools, and the use of advanced molecular techniques for presumptive detection and evaluation of MIC. This review mainly focuses on the mechanism of corrosive microorganisms and newly emerging strategies and technologies in monitoring and mitigating those damage caused by microbes.