ACTIVITIES OF HYDROGENASE IN MARINE ENVIRONMENTS AND THE CORROSION OF IRON

Abstract : Data reported in earlier progress reports have shown that certain marine bacteria, one strain of Desulfovibrio sp. and a facultatively anaerobic pseudomonad, promote the corrosion of iron. These two organisms were used in further studies, the results of which have implicated the enzyme, hydrogenase, as possibly being responsible for the depolarization and resulting corrosion of metallic iron in the anaerobic environment. In an effort to acquire a broader spectrum of organisms which might show similar corrosive properties, emphasis has been placed on obtaining enrichment cultures from samples taken from various marine environments. Substrates examined to date can be devited into five basic types: (1) water; (2) sediments and muds; (3) sand; (4) metals; (5) wood.