Role of Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa on Corrosion Behaviour of Stainless Steel

Corrosion behavior of SS304 in minimal salt medium with 1.5 % NaCl as a corrosive agent in presence of Bacillus subtilis strain S1X and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain ZK has been investigated. Electrochemical techniques such as Tafel polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy with surface analytical techniques like atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectrum analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that both bacteria inhibit corrosion of SS304 due to the development of a protective biofilm on metal surface. The pH values of bacterial-inoculated systems decreased with increasing incubation time showing the production of some acidic metabolites by bacterial isolates.