Algae are photosynthetic organisms with relatively simple nutritional requirements of light, water, air and certain inorganic compounds. They can be found in wide ranges of salinity (sea water to distilled water) and survive in different degrees of light intensity. Algae have been associated with fouling and related corrosion problems. Corrosion reactions can be stimulated by the metabolic production of gaseous oxygen (under the photosynthetic principle, algae produce oxygen when exposed to light) and also corrosive species such as organic acids. .

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MTI Publication No.13, "Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion: A State-of-the-Art Review", Second Edition, 1989.

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