Microbial Corrosion of Copper Under Conditions Simulating Deep Radioactive Waste Disposal

This paper presents the results of microbial corrosion tests on M0-grade copper under conditions simulating a geological repository for radioactive waste at the Yeniseisky site (Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia). The work used a microbial community sampled from a depth of 450 m and stimulated with glucose, hydrogen and sulfate under anaerobic conditions. It was shown that the maximum corrosion rate, reaching 9.8 µm/y, was achieved with the addition of sulfate (1 g/L) with the participation of microorganisms from the families <i>Desulfomicrobiaceae</i>, <i>Desulfovibrionaceae</i> and <i>Desulfuromonadaceae</i>. It was noted that the most important factor leading to copper corrosion was the accumulation of hydrogen sulfide during the activation of sulfate-reducing microorganisms of the genera <i>Desulfomicrobium</i>, <i>Desulfovibrio</i> and <i>Desulfuromonas.</i> During the development of the microbial community under these conditions, the content of copper can have a significant toxic effect at a concentration of more than 250 mg/L.