Development of an Electrochemical Approach to Detect Microbially Influenced Corrosion in Natural Gas Transmission Lines

Corrosion caused by microbiological activities, or microbially influenced corrosion (MIC), in gas and hazardous liquid pipelines is difficult to monitor, predict, and quantify. This difficulty is attributable to (1) the variety of microbiological metabolisms can lead to MIC, (2) difficulty in spatially identifying the small scale (i.e., µm) processes leading to MIC, and (3) difficulty in monitoring pipelines that can traverse hundreds or thousands of km. In an effort to overcome these monitoring challenges the authors have proposed that zero-resistance ammetry (ZRA) measurements can be used as an in-situ pipeline monitoring technique, whereby electrochemical signatures of corrosive microbiological activities could serve as predictors of MIC. To develop ZRA as an MIC monitoring tool, the authors conducted split chamber ZRA (SC-ZRA) incubations that entail deployment of two steel working electrodes (WE1 and WE2) in chambers separated by a semipermeable membrane. This setup can mimic the in-situ conditions that lead to MIC. Subsequently, one chamber was inoculated with a microbial enrichment culture (sulfate reducing, fermentative, thiosulfate reducing, or thiol metabolizing bacteria) or a consortium of microorganisms. In these experiments, current and potential were measured and compared with carbon steel mass loss. The direction and magnitude of current could predict the type and extent of MIC. Based on these results, field deployable ZRA measurement units could be developed and used to monitor MIC in difficult to reach gas and hazardous liquid transporting pipelines.

• Record URL:
  https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/matrix/FilGet.rdm?fil=18818
• Summary URL:
  https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/matrix/PrjHome.rdm?prj=781&s=4A1EE4C46A9F49C0A24CD8C68F5E72CC&c=1
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Akron

  Akron, OH  United States 

  Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

  1200 Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Senko, John
  • Monty, Chelsea
• Publication Date: 2023-8-30

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 48p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Corrosion; Detectors; Electrochemical processes; Microbiology; Natural gas pipelines
• Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Pipelines;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01895533
• Record Type: Publication
• Contract Numbers: 693JK31850003CAAP
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 6 2023 1:40PM