Biodeterioration of concrete by thiobacilli and nitrifying bacteria

Universität Hamburg, Institut für Allgemeine Botanik, Abt. Mikrobiologie, Hamburg

Abstract

The biological attack may contribute considerably to the deterioration of ceramic materials. Especially lithotrophic bacteria have been demonstrated to be of importance due to the excretion of sulfuric or nitric acid. The Biogenic Sulfuric Acid Corrosion and the Nitric Acid Corrosion of concrete were remodeled in simulation apparatus’. The biotest allowed to detect within many different types of materials the appropiate ones. Because the biotest includes the interactions of microorganisms and their environment, a part is the ceramic material as substratum, it cannot be replaced by chemical and/or physical testing.