Bacterial Kinetics of Sulfur Oxidizing Bacteria and Their Biodeterioration Rates of Concrete Sewer Pipe Samples
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 136, Issue 7
Abstract
The importance of bacteria in catalyzing microbially induced concrete corrosion was evaluated. Experiments were conducted to determine the optimum pH and growth kinetics of four selected bacterial strains (Thiobacillus neapolitanus C2, Thiobacillus thioparus H1, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, and Acidiphilium cryptum LHET2). Combinations of these strains were inoculated into flasks containing concrete blocks half-submerged in 600 mL of synthetic wastewater with hydrogen sulfide in the headspace air. Controls not inoculated with bacteria lost 0–3 mg/g concrete over 227 days; in the aqueous phase the minimum pH was 6–6.7 and 19–23 mg of calcium/g concrete was released. Systems inoculated with two species of neutrophilic sulfur oxidizing microorganisms (SOM) lost 8 mg/g concrete; in the aqueous phase the minimum pH was 4.5 and 25 mg of calcium/g concrete was released. The concrete samples incubated with neutrophilic and acidophilic SOM and an acidophilic heterotroph experienced the greatest deterioration, with a total mass loss of 13 mg/g concrete, minimum aqueous pH of 3.0, 28 mg calcium/g concrete released, and 47 mg sulfate/g concrete produced.
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Acknowledgments
This study was supported in part by Conacyt (Mexican National Science and Technology Council), CCAPAMA, the American Concrete Institute, and the Engineering Excellence Fund at the University of Colorado-Boulder.
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Received: Jul 24, 2009
Accepted: Dec 7, 2009
Published online: Dec 18, 2009
Published in print: Jul 2010
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