Objective
Task 1 (Biofilms) collected and rationalised methods of assessing MIC. Two workshops were devoted to this purpose and several personnel exchanges were performed to transfer knowledge between the different laboratories. A guideline on simple methods for the investigation of the role of biofilms in corrosion has been produced and it contains also a clear definition of MIC that is now used in all other tasks.
Task 1 also provided answers from questions arising within the other task groups, concentrated on rationalising MIC assessment methods and increasing knowledge of MIC mechanisms, such as investigating the role of enzymes in the MIC process, e.g. the workshop on "Enzymes and Corrosion, December 5th 2000, Paris, France" that was organized as part of Task 6 by Damien Feron, CEA-Saclay, France. A book, Biofilms and Microbially Influenced Corrosion, is in preparation that will summarise the results obtained in Task 1. The network also organised a European Summer School on Biologically Influenced Corrosion from 8-13 July 2002, with local organisation carried out by Dr. Iwona Beech, University of Portsmouth, and was supported by all the other Tasks.
Task 2 (Corrosion) performed a survey of field and laboratory experiences with different materials. An analysis of the electrochemical behaviour of materials in different systems was performed. As a result, an international workshop was held in Stockholm on March 7/8, 2002, with the title "Localised electrochemical techniques in corrosion research". Two papers for discussion were produced: "Do Bacteria eat Metal?" and "MIC of Stainless Steel in Seawater".
Task 3 (MIC risk assessment) chose "Emergency and cooling water systems" for a risk assessment model. A list of MIC relevant aspects was drafted, and inputs from tasks 1, 2, 4 and 5 helped to identify possible parameters for the development of the model. The influences of each identified aspect of MIC on the overall process were to be estimated, so that a likelihood of risks table could be developed. A questionnaire was produced and used to identify true cases of MIC in the literature and case studies, and a database was developed. The lack of quantitative data in the literature so far made it impossible to set up the risk assessment system in the form originally proposed. However, the production of the database of MIC rates represents a considerable effort, and provides a useful resource for the corrosion engineer, which could be expanded as more data become available. The experience gained in setting up the database led to the production of recommendations for the parameters to be measured and recorded in both industrial and academic investigations of MIC, to improve risk analysis. Task 4 (MIC-Mitigation) drafted a state-of-the-art summary about methods currently used in industry and their performance and economical aspects. Guidelines for MIC diagnostics (with Tasks 3 and 5) and guidelines on general system design and materials have also been produced.
Task 5 (Biofilm and corrosion monitoring) provided a state-of-the-art overview of monitoring devices, which was presented on a workshop that was held in conjunction with the 3rd generals meeting of the network. Techniques for MIC-monitoring have also been under review and user based practical experiences have been summarised. Task 6 (Personnel Exchange) investigated the possibilities of effective dissemination of the results to persons outside the network, including the organisation of a European Summer School on Biologically Influenced Corrosion. The summer school was held on 8-13 July 2002 at the University of Portsmouth, U.K. Furthermore, short-term personnel exchanges between partners in the network were performed for training purposes.
The purpose of this network is to bring together scientists and engineers from European industries, research organisations and universities to promote scientific and technological cooperation in order to better understand biocorrosion phenomena, to assess the risk of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC), and to propose effective ways of biocorrosion mitigation. The multidisciplinary character of the project requires promoting effective communication between all the different partners involved in the network. Communication will be organized according to three main areas: . Enhancement of the relations between academic teams with different backgrounds (biochemistry, microbiology, electrochemistry, materials) is necessary to improve the fundamental understanding of microbially induced degradation and/or corrosion. This trend has already been initiated by some groups but it still remains in its infancy and is very scattered in the European Community. A good connection between academic teams should result in a core of academic experts which could provide industrial partners with different expertise necessary to approach effectively a biocorrosion problem. . Exchanges between engineers from different industrial sectors will be strongly encouraged. Each of them possesses a particular know-how for biocorrosion prevention in different application domains. Their technics should gain efficiency if they exchange their different experiences. It must be noted that since the problems of biocorrosion prevention are generally not linked to strong rivalry, easy exchange should be possible (except perhaps in the biocide field). . The main goal of the network is to create multiple links between academic teams and R&D industrial groups. This should provide the academic investigators with new specific biocorrosion cases, on practical applications and at industrial scale. On the other hand, the connection with academic researchers should help the industrial partners to organize their own approach concerning fundamental well-identified topics and to define more efficient strategies against biocorrosion. In order to be efficient, this network is planned over four (4) years and the number of partners have been limited. The industrial areas have been also chosen carefully where significative synergies seemed possible (i.e. medical industry is also affected by biocorrosion processes, but has not been involved in this network). Eight (8) universities or research organisations, and eleven (11) industries are the present partners. The partnership will be open to three (3) other partners from other EC member states, during the network operation. The network is organized into six (6) tasks including two tasks linked to fundamental research areas, three tasks devoted to specific application projects, and a task devoted to personnel exchanges: - Research areas: (Task 1 - Biofilm; Task 2 - Corrosion) - Application projects: (Task 3 - MIC risk assessment; Task 4 - MIC mitigation; Task 5 - Biofilm and corrosion monitoring) - Personnel exchange: (Task 6)
Fields of science
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
Data not availableCoordinator
104 05 STOCKHOLM
Sweden