Sulfate Reducing Bacteria (SRB) Culturing

Culturing SRB from certain environments can be difficult. Some strains of SRB utilize very specific organic acids that do not come in standard formulas. SRB can also be very sensitive to different water components. Choosing the right formula and TDS is very important. Biotechnology Solutions offers the two standard media solutions for SRB detection API-RP38 media from the API-RP38 document and Modified Postgate’s B media from the NACE TMO-194 2010 document. In addition to the standard formulas, we also offer custom culture media to further facilitate the increased recovery of SRB that prove difficult to culture with standard media. Please contact us and speak to one of our experts to customize a media formula for your system.

Souring

Biogenic souring refers to the production of sulfide by sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB). SRB chemically reduce the compound sulfate, a common water component, to sulfide and hydrogen sulfide, extremely hazardous and corrosive compounds

FeS Formation

Iron sulfide is biogenically formed when sulfide produced by SRB reacts with iron. The result of this reaction is a black precipitate that can plug perforations, filter systems, and facilitate corrosion mechanisms.

Microbial Influenced Corrosion

SRB are especially adept in the facilitation of microbial influenced corrosion (MIC). Their metabolism and metabolism by-products are thought to accelerate cathodic depolarization as well as producing extremely corrosive hydrogen sulfide.