7. Inhibition of bacterial corrosion

While many of the reports in the literature on the action of bacteria mainly concern the acceleration of corrosion, some indicate that inhibition of metal dissolution is also possible. Three reasons are given for this:

• the first considers biofilm as a barrier limiting the diffusion of oxygen responsible for metal corrosion;

• the second is attributed to aerobic bacteria that consume oxygen;

• the third may be due to the bacteria's production of inhibiting elements.

According to Ismail [86], the most important reason is the second, in the case of non- or low-alloy steels. Oxygen consumption by Pseudomonas fragi bacteria would be more effective than deaeration with an inert gas such as nitrogen. These results are partially contradicted by Little...