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Hutchens, Elena; Williamson, Ben J.; Anand, Mahesh; Ryan, Mary P. and Herrington, Richard J.
(2007).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.corsci.2007.06.001
Abstract
Metal corrosion is microbially induced (MIC) and/or electrochemical (ECC) in origin. Here we provide a novel approach to distinguish MIC from ECC, using iron isotope fingerprinting technique. In laboratory experiments, MIC products of Fe in the presence of a pure strain of Thiomonas sp. WJ68 exhibit a major shift in Fe isotope ratios (δ56/54Fe and δ57/54Fe, by 1.26 and 1.95‰, respectively) compared to ECC products formed under identical but sterile conditions. The methodology has applications in a broad range of industrial environments, particularly in the petrochemicals sector.