Method and apparatus for measuring corrosion current induced by microbiological activities

A corrosion measuring apparatus including in combination:

• a vessel containing an electrolyte,
• means within said vessel to divide said vessel into two cells which are biologically and chemically separated from one another,
• coupling means between said cells to maintain electrolytic continuity between the cells,
• each of said cells having support means for supporting a sample metal in said electrolyte,
• counter and reference electrodes being disposed in each of said cells to provide a means to measure the potential between the sample metal and reference electrodes in the individual half-cells,
• means being connected between said electrodes for measuring current flow which is a measure of the corrosion caused by the chemical environment.

A method of evaluating the electrochemical impact of microbiological species on metal electrodes comprising the steps of:

• providing a first cell of electrolyte,
• providing a second cell of electrolyte in electrolytic communication and biologically isolated from said first cell,
• providing a continuous and measured flow of the electrolyte through the two cells,
• disposing a metal electrode in each of said cells,
• electrically connecting said electrodes to provide for the flow of current therebetween,
• inoculating one of said electrodes with a microorganism, and
• observing the current flow between said electrodes as an indication of the corrosion induced by said specimen microorganism on said inoculated electrode.

A method of evaluating the electrochemical impact of microbiological species on metal electrodes comprising the steps of:

• providing a first cell of sterilized electrolyte,
• providing a second cell of sterilized electrolyte in electrolytic communication and biologically isolated from said first cell,
• providing a continuous and measured flow of the sterilized electrolyte through the two cells,
• disposing a metal electrode in each of said cells
• said electrodes being substantially identical,
• galvanically coupling said electrodes to provide for a flow of current therebetween,
• inoculating one of said electrodes with a microorganism,
• observing the current flow between said electrodes as an indication of the corrosion induced by said specimen microrganism.