Electrochemical Techniques Characterize Impact of Surface Roughness on Microbial Colonization in the Presence of Biocides (C2026-00402)

Miguel Saldaña, Yolanda De-Abreu, Kirtiprakash Kondiparty, Sharlaine Harris, Jalyn A. Golden-Plaskett

In the oil and gas industry, corrosion induced by microorganisms represents a significant problem, resulting in the loss of billions of dollars due to production losses and repairs every year. The ability to evaluate the role of surface roughness in biofilm formation and the effect of chemical biocide applications in the control of biofilm formation and development is a challenging task even at the laboratory level.
This investigation aims to, first, implement electrochemical methods, Zero Resistance Ammeter (ZRA) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), to understand the real-time biofilm formation on mild steel second, evaluate how surface roughness can contribute to microbial attachment and third, determine the efficacy of biocides in controlling biofilm formation on mild steel. The proposed techniques include Linear Polarization Resistance (LPR), Cyclic Polarization, and EIS.
For this study, mild steel coupons will be immersed in produced water samples with and without microbes or in the absence or presence of biocide treatment and allowed to grow biofilm. After removal from the solutions, the coupons will be examined under an optical microscope and SEM to visualize the presence of biofilm. To complete the assessment, all biofilms will be removed, and the coupons will be analyzed for pitting analysis.