Inc.

Examples of this replenishment include:

draining and refilling of systems, addition of
Metallurgical and Microbial Aspects of water to replenish losses from leaks or
maintenance, or the periodic filling of dry fire
Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) sprinkler systems.

The predominant types of bacteria found in

Randy K. Kent, M.S., P.E., Metallurgical Engineer association with MIC related corrosion:
Susan Evans, CIH, CSP, P.E., Certified Industrial Hygienist / Civil Engineer • Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria (SRB) – bacteria
MDE, Inc. - Seattle, Washington that converts sulfate ions to sulfides
(including hydrogen sulfide). These
bacteria can grow in low oxygen
In the past decade, much has been written (velocity), temperature, pressure, pH, oxygen environments. SRB require sufficient
about microbial processes as they affect level and cleanliness of the system and water. organic nutrients.
metals. Attention is also being focused on The variation and interdependent affects of • Iron-Related Bacteria (IRB) – bacteria that
microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) each parameter make analyses quite converts soluble iron ions (ferrous) to
and MIC testing of fire sprinkler systems since involved. insoluble iron ions (ferric). The ferric iron
conditional testing of fire sprinkler piping is is deposited on the piping or system
now required by the National Fire Protection While MIC has received a large portion of surfaces, creating deposits that are host
Association, the 2003 International Building recent media attention about corrosion, it is sites where other bacteria can grow.
Code, and the 2003 International Fire Code. only one type of corrosion or more importantly, These can be present in a wide variety of
one influence on several modes of corrosion. environmental conditions as they may be
MIC was a driving force that led to a series of To understand the causes and effects of MIC, aerobic or anaerobic.
events where residential oil tanks degraded it is necessary to understand both the • Low Nutrient Bacteria (LNB) – microbes/
and furnaces failed, precipitating a very large metallurgical aspects of corrosion and the bacteria that grow in environments, such
class action suit in the Northwest. A fire microbial aspects of MIC-related bacteria. as potable water, with very low
sprinkler system in a nursing home in Iowa concentrations of nutrients. LNB growth
categorically failed during a fire and reports In simple terms, MIC will initiate and will form slimes and deposits which
indicate MIC as a cause of the degradation. propagate corrosion processes in pipes, creates host sites where other MIC
These examples are two of the multitude of fittings, tanks, and vessels, due in part to the bacteria can grow.
other tank and pipe deteriorations or failures presence and activities of specific types of • Anaerobic Bacteria – bacteria that grow in
that have occurred across the country where, bacterial microbes. The bacteria grows, and the absence of abundant free oxygen.
when failures were evaluated, MIC was a in the process produce byproducts (waste) These bacteria can grow in environments
contributing factor. corrosive to metals, such as mild steel, with as little as 50 parts per billion (ppb)
stainless steel, copper and copper alloys, and dissolved oxygen.
The completion of many corrosion failure galvanized steel. The byproducts include • Aerobic Bacteria – bacteria that grow in the
analyses has provided deeper understanding alkalis, acids, and reducing agents such as presence of free oxygen.
of the cause of MIC. MIC deteriorates pipes, ammonia, hydrogen sulfides, sulfuric acid, and
tanks or vessel surfaces by pitting or organic acids. The bacterial wastes also
tunneling, thereby penetrating their cross- produce tubercles and biofilms which create
sections. The formation of slime or micro-environments on metal surfaces under
tuberculation nodules can cause blockages or the tubercles. The areas under the tubercles
reduce flow. Low flow or stagnant conditions become oxygen-depleted and support the
make systems more susceptible to microbial growth of anaerobic bacteria. The anaerobic
growth. bacteria metabolize pipe wall materials and
excrete acidic byproducts which chemically
MIC can degrade or cause to fail many attack the metal component surface. The
different types of systems. The ultimate effect tubercles also shelter the bacteria and their
of MIC is the premature failure of metal growth from the water flow in the system, thus
components. The typical systems that are from inhibitors that may be added to protect
know to have failed include, but are not limited the system, enabling the bacteria to continue
to: heat exchanger systems (closed and growing.
open), fire protection systems (dry and wet
systems), building water piping systems, In order for microbes to grow and cause
potable water transmission pipes, sewer microbiologically influenced corrosion, the E-SEM Photomicrograph showing likely SRB cocci
systems, storage tanks, marine and dock bacteria plus four other environmental
systems, boiler tanks and piping, water conditions must be present: metals (host It is also important to understand the basic
heating or cooling system piping, and location), nutrients, water, and oxygen stoichiometric equations of corrosion and the
petroleum transmission pipes. Biological (although certain types of bacteria need only associated electrochemical reactions to
related corrosion problems most often initiate very small amounts of oxygen). When all of comprehend the resultant degradation in the
in new systems when they are first wetted. In these environmental conditions are present, different types of metals that may be affected.
older systems, problems occur when there is then microbial growth will occur. When the All corrosion processes, including MIC, are
a change of water source, water quality, new nutrients in the system are consumed, the electrochemical processes. Corrosion is a
materials of construction, or new operating microbes may become dormant. When the transference of positive and negative ions to
conditions. Some of the operating conditions environmental condition, i.e. nutrients, is change oxidation states which causes a
that are known to affect MIC include flow rate replenished, the microbial growth resumes. removal of structural or base material and the
(continued on other side)

700 South Industrial Way Seattle, Washington 98108 206.622.2007 fax: 206.622.2248 www.mde.com www.mic-mde.com
formation of a compound either helpful or Steel: This material develops less dense other corrosion, causes degradation,
hurtful to the system. It can be autocatalytic passive layers than other materials. It is deterioration and failures. Understanding the
(growing without external help) or system- penetrated immediately by microbes present causes, effects, and appropriate
dependent (needing to be “fed” with nutrients). unless there is some sort of insulating (barrier) investigational methods is the first step in
aid such as a coating, conversion chemical, addressing MIC related problems.
Some types of microbial reactions create calcium carbonate in water, or cathodic
ammonia. Fittings and piping systems are protection. MIC is found in these iron-base
designed to operate at stress levels below that alloys more often than any other alloy system.
of the yield strength for the composition alloy.
However when some copper or brass alloys MIC-related bacterial growth typically occurs
are used in the presence of ammonia, the in systems within specific temperature ranges,
ammonia sensitizes the metal so that residual depending on the type of bacteria; an “ideal”
and/or service stress levels are exceeded and range is often reported as 4° to 49°C.
intergranular stress corrosion cracking occurs. Bacterial growth typically hibernates below
Ammonia attacks at the grain boundaries, 4°C. Some types of bacteria favor other
sensitizing them and allowing slow crack temperature ranges; for example, most
growth. common strains of SRB grow best at 25° to
35°C. A few thermophillic types of SRB grow
Copper, stainless steel, aluminum and some more efficiently at more than 60°C, and one
other less commonly used alloy surfaces rely type is capable of growing at more than
on passive films or specific elemental atomic 100°C. While MIC more favorably grows in
layers to combat degradation and corrosion. their typical temperature ranges, growth in E-SEM Photomicrograph showing likely
MIC associated bacteria and their chemical other temperature ranges should not be IRB rods at MIC corrosion site
byproducts are very destructive to some discounted. MIC has been found in extremely
alloys. Sometimes the microbes associated cold environments such as freezers or piping
with MIC may come and go without detection systems of Alaskan villages north of the Arctic
but leave surface characteristics that disrupt Circle.
the passive layer on these alloys. Brasses,
bronzes, and copper systems, such as piping, If microbiologically influenced corrosion is
fittings and heat exchanger systems are more suspected due to observation of slime,
susceptible than other alloys in this group. restrictions in flow, or leaks/pinhole leaks in
pipes, the testing for the presence of MIC is
Copper-Base Alloys: These alloys are most warranted to determine:
susceptible to MIC because they are soft and
• Whether bacteria related to MIC are present
can incur impingement that can cause erosion
and, if so, their relative concentration
and other wear problems if their passive layer
is interrupted. Newly installed products of • The extent of the corrosion present
these alloys typically do not build up their
• The source of the corrosion
protective layer for a period of time. If MIC-
related bacteria are present, or there are • Limits of the MIC affected system components
elements like chlorides or sulfides in the initial
solutions contacting the metal, the passive or Comprehensive testing is performed by
protective layers form other complex chemical collecting a number of samples at various
compounds rather than copper oxide. The locations in a system and sampling the make-
problem with these complex chemical up water. Depending on the system
compounds are their strength; they are configuration, visual observations, and
typically much weaker than copper oxide and problems experienced at the facility, sampling
break down at lower flow rates allowing a during one or more time intervals may also be
variety of mechanisms to attack or degrade appropriate. The samples should be cultured
the substrate. If systems with copper-based on media for the presence (and relative
systems coated with these poor passive films concentration) of low nutrient bacteria, sulfate-
(the complex chemical compounds) are reducing bacteria, iron-related bacteria, and
cleaned off, further attack is inevitable, aerobic bacteria. Timely culturing of the
through a reiterative process. samples is very important as MIC-related
bacteria become dormant when the
Stainless Steel and Aluminum: These alloys environmental conditions are altered. Scaling
have tough substrates and they develop tough or other chemical conditions in the water
passive layers. Aluminum is not as strong as affect system corrosion and the interpretation
of MIC sampling results; therefore, chemical Cross-section of galvanized pipe showing MIC effects.
stainless steel, but it is still much stronger Note: pitting has reduced wall thickness by 60%.
than most bronzes. Although each of these testing of each sampling location and
alloys is durable in the applications where sampling interval is also useful. The results of MDE Inc is a multi-discipline forensic engineering
oxygen is plentiful, they are not sturdy when in the water chemistry testing can also be and laboratories consulting services firm
an oxygen-starved environment. These alloys beneficial in ascertaining how far along the providing MIC testing and consultation, as well
are not robust when around anaerobic, corrosion is, due to MIC-related bacteria. as forensic, investigational, and reconstruction
aerobic or other types of bacteria as the engineering and industrial hygiene services
passive layer is easily penetrated by them. Where leaks are present, appropriate nationwide.
Thus, in the presence of MIC-related bacteria, sampling may also include metallurgical
systems constructed of these alloys are analysis of system components. The
susceptible to MIC and MIC related metallurgical engineer analyzes the
intergranular stress corrosion cracking. The
most common point of susceptibility is welded
component using electron microscopes to
ascertain the nature of all corrosion and
Inc.
areas and highly stressed areas that exceed failures present. www.mic-mde.com
the threshold stress level for the intergranular
stress corrosion cracking. Microbiologically influenced corrosion, like 1-800-341-4588