Bacterial anaerobic corrosion

Okay kiddo, let’s talk about bacteria and how they can damage things. Have you ever left a toy in water for too long and noticed it got rusty or slimy? That’s because water can have tiny bacteria that thrive without oxygen, called anaerobic bacteria.

These bacteria are like little living creatures that produce different chemicals when they eat the things they’re growing on. When they eat metal, they produce chemicals that make the metal slowly dissolve and turn into rust. This is called bacterial anaerobic corrosion.

Now, think about pipes that carry water or gas underground. Sometimes, these pipes can get buried deep in the ground where it’s dark and there’s not much oxygen. When these pipes have tiny cracks or flaws, the anaerobic bacteria can get inside and start eating away at the metal. The longer they eat, the bigger the hole gets and can even cause the pipe to burst or leak.

Bacterial anaerobic corrosion can be a big problem, especially in places where the soil has a lot of water. It can also be a problem in ships and boats that spend a lot of time in water. To prevent this, people try to make sure pipes are sealed tightly and treated with chemicals that kill the bacteria.

So, just remember, when things get slimy and rusty, it could be little bacteria eating away at them!