• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.6
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• pp.260-265
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• 2003

The experimental methods to rapidly and stably reproduce Microbially Influenced Corrosion (MIC) of stainless steel by sulfate-reducing bacteria such as Desulfovibrio vulgaris were developed. In this study, using two types of stainless steel, 304 and 444, obtained from Pohang Steel & Iron Co., Ltd. (POSCO)., three major factors were tested; overall medium composition, dilution ratio, and chloride concentration. In the overall medium tests, three different media were prepared according to $FeSO_4$ concentration; PM (original Postgate's medium No. 2), MPM 1 (modified PM, no $FeSO_4$, MPM 2 (modified PM, 1/10 $FeSO_4$). The effects of various dilution ratios (3, 1, 1/3, 1/10, 1/30, and 1/100 times) and chloride concentrations (0.0067M, 0.01M, 0.05M, and 0.1M) were examined during 2 months cultivation. Through SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) observation, the diluted and modified media, particularly the $1/3{\times}MPM$ I medium, showed more micro-pitting points on surfaces compared to the original PM medium. High concentrations of chloride ions (above 0.05M) were not adequate for observation of MIC since those brought about non-microbiologically induced corrosion. From this study, the optimization of medium composition was very effective to routinely observe MIC in a laboratory system.