Microbiologically Induced Concrete Corrosion: A Concise Review of Assessment Methods, Effects, and Corrosion-Resistant Coating Materials

Abstract

Microbiologically induced concrete corrosion (in wastewater pipes) occurs mainly because of the diffusion of aggressive solutions and in situ production of sulfuric acid by microorganisms. The prevention of concrete biocorrosion usually requires modification of the mix design or the application of corrosion-resistant coatings, which requires a fundamental understanding of the corrosion process. In this regard, a state-of-the-art review on the subject is presented in this paper, which firstly details the mechanism of microbial deterioration, followed by assessment methods to characterize biocorrosion and its effects on concrete properties. Different types of corrosion-resistant coatings are also reviewed to prevent biocorrosion in concrete sewer and waste-water pipes. At the end, concluding remarks, research gaps, and future needs are discussed, which will help to overcome the challenges and possible environmental risks associated with biocorrosion.

Biodeterioration of Cement and Cement–Polymer Mortars: Analysis of the Influence of the Structure and Distribution of Pores on the Humidity of Mortars Exposed to the Biological Environment

“…Table 3 additionally contains two parameters related to the moisture content of the materials: the degree of water penetration and the degree of water saturation. In publication [22], a first attempt was made to adapt these parameters to cementitious materials contaminated with microbial environments. The first parameter is specific to the moisture content of ceramic walls.…”

“…This is a deterioration of the properties of technical materials caused by the activity of microorganisms, i.e., their growth and release of their metabolic products into the environment. The mechanism that is usually observed on mineral engineering materials is chemical dissimilatory biodeterioration, which occurs when microbial metabolites damage the material, causing chemical corrosion phenomena, pigmentation or the release of toxic metabolites into the material [22]. Moulds can secrete various metabolic products, i.e., volatile organic compounds, mycotoxins, pigments, acidic metabolic products and water.…”

Biodeterioration and Chemical Corrosion of Concrete in the Marine Environment: Too Complex for Prediction

“…The study of microbial deterioration of concrete involves materials science, mineralogy, and microbial ecology. Many authors have considered the corrosion of concrete in sewer pipes, and biodeterioration in these structures has been thoroughly investigated (see, for example, reviews [34][35][36]); however, information on marine biocorrosion of concrete is relatively scarce. Seawater composition and environmental parameters such as temperature, pH, and pollution influence not only the chemical corrosion of concrete but also adhering microorganisms.…”

The Effect of Biological Corrosion on the Hydration Processes of Synthetic Tricalcium Aluminate (C3A)

“…Raw sewage or manure contains a significant amount of sulphate ions, which are converted to hydrogen sulphide or other organic compounds produced under anaerobic digestion conditions [ 3 ]. In the sewage as well as in the reactors, part of the hydrogen sulphide reacts with atmospheric oxygen to form elemental sulphur, sulphites and thiosulphates, which can be deposited on concrete surfaces, resulting in their rapid uptake by sulphur-oxidising bacteria [ 4 ]. In addition, the characteristics of the chemical processes during the decomposition of organic fertilisers (manure, slurry) and the compounds formed during the methane fermentation reaction will adversely affect the durability of cement concretes [ 5 , 6 , 7 ].…”