|
|
Article: Preventing sewer corrosion: precasters take biology lessons to increase the life of concrete sewer systems.(casting trends)(Microbial Induced Corrosion)
- Article from:
- The Concrete Producer
- Article date:
- September 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Hanley-Wood, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
About 40% of the more than 20,000 wastewater systems in the United States are concrete. Corrosion severely compromises the structural integrity of these concrete components, costing millions in repairs.
Six decades after C.D. Parker discovered Microbial Induced Corrosion (MIC), many continue to incorrectly refer to the deterioration of sewer pipe as "a corrosive gas problem." But the real culprit for concrete is MIC, a process by which sulfuric acid is produced in sewer systems when hydrogen sulfide gas and Thiobacillus bacteria interact.
Anaerobic (non-air breathing) bacteria form in raw sewage and naturally produce hydrogen sulfide gas ([H.sub.2]S) in ...