Inhibition effect of Pseudomonas fluorescens on the microbiologically influenced corrosion of mild steel

Abstract

Naturally occurring biogenic molecules are of considerable interest because of increased attention on the development of environmentally compatible, non-polluting corrosion inhibitors. In the present work mild steel was exposed to culture containing free cells, coated and calcium alginate immobilized P. fluorescens. The corrosion resistance in the presence of immobilized P. fluorescens was measured by corrosion potential, potentiodynamic polarization and weight loss techniques. Inhibition of mild steel in the iron deficient culture medium of P. fluorescens was attributed to the production of siderophores such as enterobactin, parabactin, aerobactin, rhodobactin and ferrichrome which act as chelation agents and become chemisorbed onto the surface of mild steel.