Accelerated Microbial Corrosion by Magnetite and Electrically Conductive Pili through Direct Fe⁰‐to‐Microbe Electron Transfer

Abstract

Electrobiocorrosion, the process in which microbes extract electrons from metallic iron (Fe⁰) through direct Fe⁰‐microbe electrical connections, is thought to contribute to the costly corrosion of iron‐containing metals that impacts many industries. However, electrobiocorrosion mechanisms are poorly understood. We report here that electrically conductive pili (e‐pili) and the conductive mineral magnetite play an important role in the electron transfer between Fe⁰ and Geobacter sulfurreducens, the first microbe in which electrobiocorrosion has been rigorously documented. Genetic modification to express poorly conductive pili substantially diminished corrosive pitting and rates of Fe⁰‐to‐microbe electron flux. Magnetite reduced resistance to electron transfer, increasing corrosion currents and intensifying pitting. Studies with mutants suggested that the magnetite promoted electron transfer in a manner similar to the outer‐surface c‐type cytochrome OmcS. These findings, and the fact that magnetite is a common product of iron corrosion, suggest a potential positive feedback loop of magnetite produced during corrosion further accelerating electrobiocorrosion. The interactions of e‐pili, cytochromes, and magnetite demonstrate mechanistic complexities of electrobiocorrosion, but also provide insights into detecting and possibly mitigating this economically damaging process.