The sustainable decommissioning of aging marine infrastructure presents persistent challenges related to safety, cost, and environmental impact. Conventional methods are energy-intensive and pose risks to both personnel and marine ecosystems. This study explores the feasibility of using accelerated corrosion as a sustainable and passive alternative. Electrochemical experiments were conducted on plain carbon steel (A36) immersed in substitute seawater using galvanic and oxidizing chemical (non-galvanic) methods. Titanium and 316 stainless steel were tested as potential cathode materials in galvanic couples. The Zero Resistance Ammeter (ZRA) technique was used to quantify the galvanic corrosion effects in simulated seawater with varying cathode-to-anode ratios. The results showed up to 13× and 4.8× increases in corrosion rate over baseline with stainless steel and titanium as cathodes, respectively. For the oxidizing chemical approach, oxalic and citric acid solutions—with and without ferric chloride—were assessed for their ability to accelerate corrosion. Mass loss coupons and potential measurements were made in the respective solutions. Corrosion rates were also calculated using polarization experiments and Tafel extrapolation in the above-mentioned solutions. The oxalic acid + ferric chloride system generated corrosion rates as high as 26 mpy, significantly exceeding the corrosion rates in seawater without the chemicals and demonstrating strong oxidizing behavior.
