Classification of Microorganisms in Corrosion

Microorganisms can be categorized according to oxygen tolerance:

Strict (or obligate) anaerobes, which will not function in the presence of oxygen (see Sulfate reducing bacteria or SRB).

Aerobes, which require oxygen in their metabolism.

Facultative anaerobes, which can function either in the absence or presence of oxygen.

Microaerophiles, which use oxygen but prefer low levels.

Strictly anaerobic environments are quite rare in nature, while strict anaerobes are commonly found flourishing within anaerobic microenvironments in highly aerated systems.

Another way of classifying organisms is according to their metabolism:

The compounds or nutrients from which they obtain their carbon for growth and reproduction.

The chemistry by which they obtain energy or perform respiration.

The elements they accumulate as a result of these processes.

A third way of classifying bacteria is by shape. These shapes are predictable when organisms are grown under well defined laboratory conditions. In natural environments, however, shape is often determined by growth conditions rather than pedigree.

Examples of shapes are:

"Vibrio," for comma shaped cells.

"Bacillus," for rod shaped cells.

"Coccus," for round cells.

"Myces," for fungi like cells.
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