Two metabolic stages of SRB strain Desulfovibrio bizertensis affecting corrosion mechanism of carbon steel Q235

•Different metabolic stages of D. bizertensis dramatically affected the corrosion process of carbon steel.•The depth of corrosion pit influenced by D. bizertensis was 15.7 µm, which was twice than that in sterile condition after 15 d immersion.•The corrosion products were mainly composed of iron sulfide and iron oxide in the D. bizertensis medium.•The presence of D. bizertensis significantly promoted the cathode reaction.