Deep-sea microbially influenced corrosion and biomineralization

Abstract

Microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) and biomineralization are widely observed in marine, deep-sea, freshwater, and soil ecosystems. Recently, MIC and biomineralization associated with biofouling have significantly impacted marine resources, including deep-sea minerals and organisms. Notably, uncontrolled biomineralization by certain microorganisms, such as barnacles adhering to ship hulls, can lead to structural damage and economic challenges due to biocorrosion. Biomineralization can be categorized into induced mineralization and controlled mineralization. In natural environments, induced biomineralization is the predominant process. The mechanisms of induced biomineralization and MIC in extreme deep-sea environments have attracted significant attention. The factors influencing these processes are highly complex. The microbial-material interfaces serve as the primary sites for key biochemical reactions driving biocorrosion and biomineralization. Within these interfaces, biofilms, their secreted extracellular polymers, and extracellular electron transfer mechanisms play crucial roles in these processes. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of MIC and biomineralization under deep-sea environmental conditions is essential. Investigating the relationship between these phenomena and exploring their underlying mechanisms are critical for both research advancements and industrial applications.

Keywords: biomineralization; deep-sea; interfacial interaction; marine environment; microbially influenced corrosion.

Figure 1

(A) Deep-sea service equipment (Feng et al., 2022; Drazen et al., 2020); (B) Deep-sea ecosystem (Zhang C. et al., 2024); (C) Deep-sea corrosive biotic community (Wakai et al., 2024); (Rajala et al., 2022a); (D) Deep sea iron manganese sulfur cycle diagram (Zhang D. et al., 2023); (E) Schematic diagram of iron sulfur coupling (Friedrich and Finster, 2014); (F) Schematic diagram of methane cycle and sulfur cycle (Liu et al., 2025).

Figure 2

Different types of mineralization associated with both biological and abiotic factors (Dupraz et al., 2009).

Figure 3

(A) Schematic of BIM; (B) Schematics of biologically controlled intracellular mineralization shows that nucleation occurs within the cell in a specialized vesicle (Zhang J. et al., 2024).

Figure 4

(A) Direct EMIC of metals; (B) Indirect EMIC of metals, EA: electron acceptor, ED: electron donor; ox: oxidized; red: reduced; sETM: soluble electron transfer mediator (Knisz et al., 2023); (C) Biofilm stages and the five-step model of its development (Anusha and Mulky, 2023).

Figure 5

(A) Schematic model of abiotic (left panel) and biotic (right panel) processes inducing corrosion of steel on the mooring chain under deep-sea conditions (Rajala et al., 2022b); (B) Accelerated SCC mechanisms of X80 pipeline steel under the combined effects of SRB and hydrostatic pressure (Li J. et al., 2025).

Figure 6

A schematic illustration describing the mechanism of the effect of carbon sources in media on biomineralization and corrosion processes (Hao et al., 2024).

Figure 7

(A) Images of adhesion behavior of water droplets on steel, biomineralized film, and HDTMS/calcite coating (Zhang et al., 2022); (B) Corrosion products electrically insulated the biologically deposited minerals from the underlying metal (Olesen et al., 2000); (C) Cross-section schematic representation of Cl- ion penetration through surface layers on Al-Mg immersion in biotic/light side (a) and abiotic (b) conditions. (D) Biomineralization for corrosion inhibition (Sun et al., 2023).