Biogalvanic cathodic protection of reinforced concrete structures in marine environments

Cathodic protection is an efficient solution that is implemented on reinforced concrete structures to address corrosion issues and prevent further deterioration. However, it has significant drawbacks in terms of sustainability. This paper explores a new biological CP technology for reinforced concrete structures in marine environments, where a bioanode is buried in marine sediments, and electrons are supplied through the oxidation of various substrates by electro-active micro-organisms. The issue was addressed both numerically and experimentally, with a first-of-a-kind experimental verification on a laboratory specimen. This new solution offers three fundamental advantages: autonomous operation, green solution, and free current supply.