Harnessing bacterial power: advanced strategies and genetic engineering insights for biocorrosion control and inhibition

Abstract This review paper critically examines the cutting-edge strategies for biocorrosion inhibition, highlighting key bacterial species and methods that have demonstrated promising corrosion mitigation efficacy in diverse environments, from marine to industrial settings. Through a comprehensive consolidation of current research findings, this review aims to provide insights into genetic engineering approaches to improve bacterial capabilities of corrosion inhibition. For instance, a study reported that deleting the phzH gene in Pseudomonas aeruginosa reduced its corrosion-causing ability by 99%, while phzM and phzS deletions led to a 50% reduction. Similarly, researchers found that removing Gmet 1868 in Geobacter metallireducens—a gene involved in multi-heme c-type cytochrome synthesis—resulted in poor Fe surface colonization and significantly lower corrosion compared to the wild type. This review has also emphasized the challenges, environmental considerations, and potential future directions of harnessing bacterial potential to combat biocorrosion.