Performance of cementitious and alkali-activated mortars exposed to laboratory simulated microbially induced corrosion test

Publisher:
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
Publication Type:
Journal Article
Citation:
Cement and Concrete Composites, 2022, 128
Issue Date:
2022-04-01
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This research presents a laboratory simulated microbially induced corrosion (MIC) test method allowing to assess the performance of low calcium fly ash based geopolymer mortar (FA-GPm), alkali-activated slag-based mortar (AASm), sulphate resistant Portland cement mortar (SRPCm) and calcium aluminate cement mortar (CACm). This experiment runs for a period of six months in which sulphur oxidizing microbes (SOMs) (A. thiooxidans and T. intermedius) were grown in liquid media containing the thiosulphate ion. This test methodology aims to investigate the bacterial attachment phase (stage 2) followed by the initiation of acid attack (stage 3) of MIC. Lowering of the pH of liquid medium and the growth of microorganism was measured to evaluate the aggressiveness of this microbial environment. Visual, physical, chemical and microstructural investigations of mortars were performed over time to estimate the deteriorations. Ions leaching from the matrix and formation of sulphate (SO42−) was monitored using inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) and ion chromatography (IC), respectively. The results showed that the neutralization of CACm after exposure to biotic reactor was lesser compared to the other mortars, indicating its resistance towards biocorrosion. Moreover, formation of sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and the growth of SOMs showed its dependence on the type of mortar. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy was used to predict the depth of degradation and morphological variations at microstructural level. Patterns of deterioration and nucleation of minerals identified were similar to infield exposure, indicating the suitability of this testing method to simulate sewer biocorrosion.
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