Microorganisms accelerate corrosion by
changing the nature or kinetics of the ratecontrolling
reaction or process. They can be directly
involved in the electron transfer processes
in the electrochemical cell represented by Eq 1
or be less directly involved through a number of
mechanisms, including depolarization of the anode
or cathode, disruption of passivating films,
or rapid regeneration or provision of the electron
acceptor, X.