Investigation of mortar corrosion by an acidophilic sulfur-oxidizing microorganism A. thiooxidans

Abstract

The corrosion behavior of the acidophilic sulfur-oxidizing microorganism (ASOM) Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans (A. thiooxidans) on mortar was investigated for changes of medium and mortar, as well as for weight loss and surface morphology of mortar specimens. Weight loss analysis showed that mortar weight was reduced by (15.1± 2.2)% after 56 d. Morphological surface analysis of mortar specimens showed weakly structured fibrous substances with 2–100 µm in size. The pH variations of the mortar surface and medium indicated that biogenic sulfuric acid had been produced by A. thiooxidans. The results prove that A. thiooxidans accelerated concrete corrosion and caused concrete failure.

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