This biofilm-influenced deterioration of materials is referred to as Microbially Influenced Corrosion (MIC) or, more commonly, as biocorrosion.

Today the main treatment designed to mitigate biocorrosion is the control of microorganisms within the biofilms by application of biocides. Obviously, this can lead to significant environmental pollution problems. Although chemical (abiotic) corrosion processes have been widely studied and well understood, this is not the case for biocorrosion, which requires expertise not only in chemistry, electrochemistry and material sciences but also in live and biological sciences.

The global objective of the Network is to train and promote qualified research project managers in biocorrosion, capable to work in research or industry and to lead teams of experts of different disciplines and countries.

BIOCOR ITN is designed to the benefit of two large industrial sectors strongly affected by biocorrosion risks in particular: oil and gas industry and power supply facilities. A “problem-oriented approach” is pursuing in four selected Research Sub-Programs (RSPs) Oil and gas industry: RSP. 1 – Water injection systems (leader Det Norske Veritas -Statoil, NL); RSP. 2 – Systems for handling stabilised oil (leader Det Norske Veritas, NL). Power supply facilities: RSP. 3 – Cooling systems in energy facilities (leader RSE, IT); RSP. 4 – Nuclear waste geological disposal (Leader Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique, FR).

The project involves 12 research teams and 4 associated partners from 9 different EU countries, from both the academic and industrial sectors. 12 Individual research Programme (IPs) related to the subprogrammes are undertaken by the project’s research teams:

RSP. 1 – Water injection systems. IP1 – More reliable monitoring and decision support (Det Norske Veritas, NL); IP2 – New biocorrosion experimental models from the field (CNRS- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, FR). RSP. 2 – Systems for handling stabilised oil. IP3 – Deeper insights into SRB-driven biocorrosion mechanisms (Universidade Nova de Lisboa, PT); IP4 – Role of EPS in biocorrosion initiation or inhibition (University of Duisburg-Essen, DE); IP5 – Biochips for biocorrosion monitoring (University of Portsmouth, UK); IP6 – Field data analysis and global model (Swerea KIMAB, SE). RSP. 3 – Cooling systems in energy facilities. IP7 – Microbial effects on passivation and corrosion of copper alloys (RSE, IT); IP8 – Influence of the bio-macromolecules adsoption on the chemical composition of passive layers and electrochemical behavior of materials (CNRS- Laboratoire Physico-Chimie des Surfaces, FR); IP9 – Mechanisms of competitive adsorption of biomacromolecules on metallic surfaces used in cooling circuits. Iinfluence on biocorrosion (Université Catholique de Louvain, BE); IP10 – Effective substances built in nanolayers against MIC (Chemical Research Centre, HU).

RSP. 4 – Nuclear waste geological disposal. IP11 – Interaction between H2 production and microbial growth in underground nuclear waste disposal (CEA, FR); IP12 – The interface mechanism of iron biocorrosion in presence of IRB (Iron Reducing Bacteria) in clay environment (CNRS- Lab. Interfaces et Systèmes Electrochimiques, FR).

12 Early-stage researchers (ESRs) and 5 Experienced researchers (ERs) are currently being recruited to take part in the research and training of the BIOCOR network. 2 Visiting senior scientists of international stature, Mirna Urquidi Macdonald (professor of engineering science and mechanics at Penn State University, USA) and Robert E. Melchers (professor at The University of Newcastle, Australia) will also be involved in the project, supporting the network for period of 4 months each.