Bacterial Detection in Corrosive Media and Assessment of Corrosion Inhibition Efficiency of Novel Paints
Abstract
Anti-corrosive pigments such as zinc chromate, frequently used in paint formulations to combat steel corrosion, are potentially toxic. In this study, the corrosion inhibition properties of eleven water-based paints formulated with novel corrosion inhibitors were compared with a reference conventional paint (2). The paints were applied on galvanized steel (GS) and mild steel (MS). Painted and unpainted [control (C)] steel samples were immersed in corrosive media (1M HCl, 3.5% NaCl, and tap water). Bacterial population and pH of the corrosive media, as well as corrosion rates of immersed samples, were determined over six months. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp., Providentia stuartii, Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. oleovorans, and Bacillus anthracis were detected in the corrosive media. Bacterial populations ranged from 3.0×10⁴ to 1.00×10⁶, 3.5×10⁴ to 1.80×10⁶, and 3.0×10⁴ to 2.50×10⁶ CFU/mL for acid, 3.5% NaCl, and water with painted MS, respectively. For painted GS, bacteria ranged from 3.0×10⁴ to 9.0×10⁴, 3.2×10⁴ to 7.0×10⁴, and 3.0×10⁴ to 1.20×10⁶ CFU/mL for acid, salt, and water, respectively. The pH decreased for all samples: 2.4 to 0, 6.5 to 1.0, and 7 to 1.6 for acid, salt, and water, respectively. Paints 1, 2, 5, 7, 11, and 12 showed the lowest MS corrosion rate (0.0002 mm/y) in salt, while paint 9 had the lowest GS corrosion rate (0.0002 mm/y) in salt. All samples corroded completely in acid after six months. Paint 9 (MS) achieved the highest inhibition efficiency of 66.66%. The novel paints performed comparably to conventional paints.
Keywords: Corrosion inhibition, bacterial detection, novel paints, mild steel, galvanized steel, inhibition efficiency
References
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Roselli, S. N., Romagnoli, R., Deyá, C. (2017). The anti-corrosion performance of water-borne paints in long term tests. Progress in Organic Coatings, 109, 172-178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.porgcoat.2017.04.029
Sharma, P., Upadhyay, R. K., Chaturvedi, S. (2008). Corrosion inhibition studies of plant extracts. Journal of Traditional Research, 15, 21-28.
Stephen, I. D. (2014). Effects of pH variation on corrosion of mild steel in bore-hole water using 1M sodium hydroxide solution. Journal of International Engineering and Technology, 139-144.
Tanaporn, T., Bruce, B., Srdjan, N. (2013). Effects of pH on CO₂ corrosion of mild steel at elevated temperature. NACE International Corrosion Conference and Expo, Paper No. 2348.
Yanhong, Y., Shi, H., Wang, J., Liu, F., Han, E. (2018). Corrosion inhibition of galvanized steel in NaCl solution by tolytriazole. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 32(4), 471-480. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40195-018-0823-3
Yuli, Y., Emriadi, Novesar, J., Gunawarman. (2014). Corrosion inhibition efficiency of mild steel in hydrochloric acid by adding Theobroma cacao peel extract. International Conference on Biological, Chemical and Environmental Sciences, 1524.
Aniyam, C. K., Ogbore, O., Eguize, E. E., Madufor, I. C., Nwanonyenyi, S. C., Onuegbu, G. C., Obasi, H. C., Chidiebere, M. A. (2020). Corrosion inhibition of galvanized steel in hydrochloric acid medium by a physically modified starch. SpringerNature Applied Sciences Journal, 2, 520. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-020-2315-3
Arachchige, L. J., Li, C., Wang, F. (2025). Recent advances in understanding iron/steel corrosion: Mechanistic insights from molecular simulations. Current Opinion in Solid State and Materials Science, 35, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cossms.2025.101216
Bani, S. L., Gloria, Dan-Orawari, I. F. (2023). Investigating effects of corrosion on industrial-coated mild steel pipelines in acidic environment. Journal of Automation and Automobile Engineering, 53, 41-56.
Cheesbrough, M. (2004). District laboratory practice in tropical countries (Parts 1-2, pp. 157-199). Cambridge University Press.
Chinwko, E. C., Odio, B. O., Chukwuneke, J. L., Sinebe, J. E., Sinebe, J. (2014). Investigation of the effect of corrosion on mild steel in five different environments. International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research, 3(7), 2277-8616.
Chohan, I. M., Ahmad, M., Sallih, N., Bheel, N., Salilew, W. M., Almaliki, A. H. (2024). Effect of seawater salinity, pH and temperature on external corrosion behaviour and microhardness of offshore oil and gas pipeline: RSM modeling and optimization. Scientific Reports, 14, 16543. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-67498-3
Chuan, L., Bin, X., Like, Z., Xingwen, Z., Xiao, M., Shasha, Z. (2017). Adsorption and corrosion inhibition of mild steel in hydrochloric acid solution by S-allyl-O,O'-dialkyldithiophosphates. Results in Physics, 7, 3434-3443. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rinp.2017.09.003
Del Amo, B., Véleva, L., Di Sarli, A. R., Elsner, C. I. (2004). Performance of coated steel systems exposed to different media: Part I. Painted galvanized steel. Progress in Organic Coatings, 50(3), 179-192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.porgcoat.2004.02.003
Firoozi, A. A., Firoozi, A. S., Oyejobi, D. O., Avudaiappan, S., Flores, E. S. (2024). Emerging trends in sustainable building materials: Technological innovations, enhanced performance, and future directions. Results in Engineering, 24, 1-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2024.103521
Gassama, D., Diagne, A. A., Yade, I., Fall, M., Faty, S. (2015). Investigations on the corrosion of constructional steels in different aqueous and simulated atmospheric environments. Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Ethiopia, 29, 299-310. https://doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v29i2.12
Jain, T., Choudhary, R., Mathur, S. P. (2006). Natural products as corrosion inhibitors for metals in corrosive media: A review. Materials and Corrosion, 57, 422-430. https://doi.org/10.1002/maco.200503931
James, A. O., Oforka, N. C., Abiola, O. K. (2006). Inhibition of aluminum 3SR corrosion in hydrochloric acid by pyridoxal hydrochloride. Bulletin of Electrochemistry, 22(3), 111-116.
Khadom, A. A., Hassan, A. F., Abod, B. M. (2015). Evaluation of environmentally friendly inhibitor for galvanic corrosion of steel-copper couple in petroleum waste water. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 98, 93-101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2015.07.001
Khadraoui, A., Khelifa, A., Hachama, K., Mehdaoui, R. (2016). Thymus algeriensis extract as a new eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor for 2024 aluminium alloy in 1 M HCl medium. Journal of Molecular Liquids, 214, 293-297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2015.12.064
Korozní problémy při zpracování plynu a ropy. (2017). Corrosion problems and solutions in oil, gas, refining and petrochemical industry. Koroze a ochrana materiálu, 61(3), 100-117.
Mahvash, F., Eissa, S., Bordjiba, T., Tavares, A. C., Szkopek, T., Siaj, M. (2017). Corrosion resistance of monolayer hexagonal boron nitride on copper. Scientific Reports, 7, 42139. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep42139
Mansouri, H., Alavi, S. A., Fotovat, M. (2015). Microbial-influenced corrosion of corten steel compared with carbon steel and stainless steel in oily wastewater by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. JOM, 67, 1594-1600. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-015-1429-1
Micheal, O. N., Peter, O. O., Simon, I. N., Lucky, C. O., Ndubuisi, E. I. (2014). Amaranthus cordata as a green corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in H₂SO₄ and NaCl. Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering, 2, 194-199. https://doi.org/10.4236/jmmce.2014.23023
Muatasem, L. A., Ferrieres, L., Hyötyläinen, T., Jass, J. (2025). Biocide-resistant Pseudomonas oleovorans isolated from water-based coatings used in construction. Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, 52, 015. https://doi.org/10.1093/jimb/kuaf015
Olusegun, A. K., Tobun, Y. (2010). Cocos nucifera L. water as green corrosion inhibitor for acid corrosion of aluminium in HCl solution. Chinese Chemical Letters, 21, 1449-1452. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cclet.2010.04.023
Pillay, C., Lin, J. (2013). Metal corrosion by aerobic bacteria isolated from simulated corrosion systems: Effects of additional nitrate sources. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, 83, 158–165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2013.05.013
Putilova, I. N., Balizin, S. A., Baranik, V. P. (1960). Metallic corrosion inhibitors (p. 305). Pergamon Press.
Rodríguez-Torres, A., Valladares-Cisneros, M. G., Gonzalez-Rodríguez, J. G. (2015). Use of Salvia officinalis as green corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in acidic media. International Journal of Electrochemical Science, 10, 4053-4067.
Roselli, S. N., Romagnoli, R., Deyá, C. (2017). The anti-corrosion performance of water-borne paints in long term tests. Progress in Organic Coatings, 109, 172-178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.porgcoat.2017.04.029
Sharma, P., Upadhyay, R. K., Chaturvedi, S. (2008). Corrosion inhibition studies of plant extracts. Journal of Traditional Research, 15, 21-28.
Stephen, I. D. (2014). Effects of pH variation on corrosion of mild steel in bore-hole water using 1M sodium hydroxide solution. Journal of International Engineering and Technology, 139-144.
Tanaporn, T., Bruce, B., Srdjan, N. (2013). Effects of pH on CO₂ corrosion of mild steel at elevated temperature. NACE International Corrosion Conference and Expo, Paper No. 2348.
Yanhong, Y., Shi, H., Wang, J., Liu, F., Han, E. (2018). Corrosion inhibition of galvanized steel in NaCl solution by tolytriazole. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 32(4), 471-480. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40195-018-0823-3
Yuli, Y., Emriadi, Novesar, J., Gunawarman. (2014). Corrosion inhibition efficiency of mild steel in hydrochloric acid by adding Theobroma cacao peel extract. International Conference on Biological, Chemical and Environmental Sciences, 1524.
Published
2026-03-24
How to Cite
Obidi, O. F. (2026). Bacterial Detection in Corrosive Media and Assessment of Corrosion Inhibition Efficiency of Novel Paints. Journal of Engineering Research, 30(4), 16-37. Retrieved from https://jer.unilag.edu.ng/article/view/2921
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Articles
