BIOREACTOR FOR THE IN SITU STUDY OF MICROBIAL BIOFILMS INDUCING CORROSION ON METAL SURFACES

摘要

A portable bioreactor is provided for the in situ study of mesophilic and thermophilic corrosion inducing microbial biofilms on metal surfaces used in any industry, such as oil, chemical, petrochemical, oil refining, food, metallurgical, paper. The bioreactor's configuration is a “batch” type for turbulent and piston-driven laminar flow, operating by cycles, with the continuous circulation of fluid. A culture medium, or industrial operation or production fluids containing microbiota is introduced into the load of the receiving body, thus the bioreactor is single phase. The bioreactor comprises a support section for corrosimetric test coupons that are in touch with the fluid under dynamic conditions, such as found in the fluid carrying pipelines, naturally promoting the formation of the microbial biofilm. The coupons are removed for analysis to follow the kinetics of microbial biofilm development. The operating conditions comprise a section having sufficient turbulence for the fluid to homogenize and maintain a temperature of 20 to 80° C. necessary for the mesophilic or thermophilic microorganism's growth. Salinity can be in the range 2 to 200 ppm (NaCl) and the pH range from 2 to 10; the bioreactor's operating conditions conform to the physicochemical characteristics of the fluid from the industry to be assessed.

主权项

1. A bioreactor for the in situ study of corrosion inducing mesophilic and thermophilic microbial biofilms on metal surfaces, comprising: a homogenizing container (1) of a culture medium or industrial operation or production fluid, which has multiple inputs (2); a flexible conduit (3) that transports the fluid from the homogenizing vessel (1) to a hermetic container (4) with a pump and thermostat; a flexible conduit (5) which carries the fluid pumped from the airtight container (4) to the the corrosimetric test coupons support section (6), which has an intake / injection port (7), hermetic holders for corrosimetric test coupons (8) a corresponding space for corrosimetric test coupon's insertion/removal (9) and a key (10); and a settling vessel (11) which receives the flow with biomass waste residuals from the test coupons support section (6), and which has a key for purification (12).