Ultraviolet treatment: a new potential technology to mitigate microbiologically influenced corrosion

Abstract

Corrosion is a natural deterioration phenomenon caused by reactions of metals with their environment. It is also a natural spontaneous process with devastating impact towards the infrastructure (Norhazilan et al., 2011; Yahaya, 2011). There is huge challenge to mitigate this delicate phenomenon albeit the fact that it cannot be simply eliminated altogether from the deteriorating infrastructure, although with careful steps, it can be well controlled. This process has enormous financial and safety implications for many industries, including the energy industry. According to NACE International, corrosion is the deterioration of a substance or its properties as a result of an undesirable reaction with the environment (NACE, 2000). It occurs immediately when pure metals or their alloys are exposed to water.