Gemini surfactants as corrosion inhibitors. A review

Surfactants as biodegradable sustainable inhibitors for corrosion control in diverse media and conditions: A comprehensive review

BACKGROUND

Corrosion is a challenging and potentially harmful process that involves the continuing, impulsive deterioration of metallic structures via reactions involving environmental components and electro- or chemical processes. To inhibit corrosion, various additives are added. Traditional additives, on the other hand, contain environmentally hazardous substances. Surfactants are less expensive, easier to manufacture, and have high inhibitory efficacy and low toxicity compared to standard corrosion inhibitors. They are often employed as corrosion inhibitors to protect metallic materials against corrosion.

METHODS

Surfactant molecules' amphiphilic nature promotes adsorption at surfaces such as the metal/metal oxide-water interface. Surfactant adsorption on metals and metal oxides forms a barrier that can prevent corrosion.

SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS

This review of surfactants as corrosion inhibitors aims to offer a systemic evaluation of various surfactant physical and chemical properties, surfactant influence in corrosion inhibition, and surfactant used in corrosion inhibition that can be used to enhance the efficacy of surfactant use as corrosion inhibitors in a variety of environments. The effect of several parameters on the potential to suppress corrosion of surfactant molecule series is also discussed here.

Properties and Applications of Quaternary Ammonium Gemini Surfactant 12-6-12: An Overview

Surfactants are amphiphilic molecules and one of the most versatile products of the chemical industry. They can be absorbed at the air-water interface and can align themselves so that the hydrophobic part is in the air while the hydrophilic part is in water. This alignment lowers the surface or interfacial tension. Gemini surfactants are a modern variety of surfactants with unique properties and a very wide range of potential applications. Hexamethylene-1,6-bis(N-dodecyl-N,N-dimethylammonium bromide) is one such representative compound that is a better alternative to a single analogue. It shows excellent surface, antimicrobial, and anticorrosion properties. With a highly efficient synthetic method and a good ecological profile, it is a potential candidate for numerous applications, including biomedical applications.

Polymeric surfactants as ideal substitutes for sustainable corrosion protection: A perspective on colloidal and interface properties

Surfactants are well known for their colloidal and corrosion inhibition potential (CIP) due to their strong propensity to interact with metallic surfaces. However, because of their small molecular size and the fact that they are only effective at relatively high concentrations, their application in aqueous phase corrosion inhibition is often restricted. Polymeric surfactants, a unique class of corrosion inhibitors, hold the potential to eradicate the challenges associated with using surfactants in corrosion inhibition. They strongly bond with the metallic surface and offer superior CIP because of their macromolecular polymeric structure and abundance of polar functional groups. In contrast to conventional polymeric corrosion inhibitors, the inclusion of polar functional groups also aids in their solubilization in the majority of popular industry-based electrolytes. Some of the major functional groups present in polymeric surfactants used in corrosion mitigation include O (ether), glycidyl (cyclic ether), -CONH2 (amide), -COOR (ester), -SO3H (sulfonic acid), -COOH (carboxyl), -NH2 (amino), - + NR3/- + NHR2/- + NH2R/- + NH3 (quaternary ammonium), -OH (hydroxyl), -CH2OH (hydroxymethyl), etc. The current viewpoint offers state-of-the-art information on polymer surfactants as newly developing ideal alternatives for conventional corrosion inhibitors. The industrial scale-up, colloidal, coordination, adsorption properties, and structural requirements of polymer surfactants have also been established based on the knowledge obtained from the literature. Finally, the challenges, drawbacks, and potential benefits of using polymer surfactants have also been discussed.

DFT Calculation and MD Simulation Studies on Gemini Surfactant Corrosion Inhibitor in Acetic Acid Media

Gemini surfactant corrosion inhibitor (CI) is one type of CI mainly used in mitigating corrosion in the complex system of oil/gas production industries. Computer modeling methods such as density functional theory (DFT) calculation and molecular dynamic (MD) simulation are required to develop new CI molecules focusing on their application condition as a prediction or screening process before the physical empirical assessment. In this work, the adsorption inhibition efficiencies of two monomer surfactants (2B and H) and their respective Gemini structures with the addition of different spacers (alkyl, benzene, ester, ether, and ketone) are investigated using DFT calculation and MD simulation method in 3% sodium chloride (NaCl), and 1500 ppm acetic acid solutions. In DFT calculation, 2B-benzene molecules are assumed to have the most promising inhibition efficiency based on their high reactivity and electron-donating ability at their electron-rich benzene ring region based on the lowest bandgap energy (0.765 eV) and highest HOMO energy value (-2.879 eV), respectively. DFT calculation results correlate with the adsorption energy calculated from MD simulation, where 2B-benzene is also assumed to work better as a CI molecule with the most adsorption strength towards Fe (110) metal with the highest negative adsorption energy value (-1837.33 kJ/mol at temperature 323 K). Further, diffusion coefficient and molecular aggregation analysis in different CI concentrations through MD simulation reveals that only a small amount of Gemini surfactant CI is needed in the inhibition application compared to its respective monomer. Computer simulation methods successfully predict and screen the Gemini surfactant CI molecules that can work better as a corrosion inhibitor in acetic acid media. The amount of Gemini surfactant CI that needs to be used is also predicted. The future planning or way forward from this study will be the development of the most promising Gemini surfactant CI based on the results from DFT calculation and MD simulations.

Application of Biomass Corrosion Inhibitors in Metal Corrosion Control: A Review

Corrosion is the process of damaging materials, and corrosion of metallic materials frequently results in serious consequences. The addition of corrosion inhibitors is the most effective means of preventing metal corrosion. Until now, researchers have made unremitting efforts in the research of high-efficiency green corrosion inhibitors, and research on biomass corrosion inhibitors in a class of environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitors is currently quite promising. This work presents the classification of green biomass corrosion inhibitors in detail, including plant-based corrosion inhibitors, amino acid corrosion inhibitors, and biosurfactant corrosion inhibitors, based on the advantages of easy preparation, environmental friendliness, high corrosion inhibition efficiency, and a wide application range of biomass corrosion inhibitors. This work also introduces the preparation methods of biomass corrosion inhibitors, including hydrolysis, enzymatic digestion, the heating reflux method, and microwave extraction. In addition, the corrosion inhibition mechanisms of green biomass corrosion inhibitors, including physical adsorption, chemisorption, and film-forming adsorption, and evaluation methods of biomass corrosion inhibitors are also explicitly described. This study provides valuable insights into the development of green corrosion inhibitors.

The Effect of Smart PEO-Coatings Impregnated with Corrosion Inhibitors on the Protective Properties of AlMg3 Aluminum Alloy

The protective coating with a self-organized microtubular structure was formed using plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) on AlMg3 aluminum alloy in the tartrate-fluoride electrolyte. This protective layer was further modified using corrosion inhibitors of the azole group (1,2,4-triazole, benzotriazole) and polymer material (polyvinilidene fluoride, PVDF). X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy were used to study the morphology and composition of the obtained oxide coatings. The presence of the inhibitor in the PEO-layer was confirmed using micro-Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The level of corrosion protection of formed coatings as well as the effect of loaded inhibitors on the anticorrosion efficiency was evaluated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and localized scanning techniques (SVET/SIET). The coating impregnation with corrosion inhibitors of the azole group significantly improves the corrosion characteristics of the material. Impregnation of the base PEO-layer with 1,2,4-triazole during 24 h results in a 36 times increase in the impedance modulus measured at the lowest frequency (|Z|_f=0.1Hz). Additional sealing of impregnated coating with polymer improves the corrosion stability of the treated material. On the base of the obtained data, the optimal way of protective inhibitor- and polymer-containing formation using surface treatment was suggested. The best barrier properties were established for hybrid coatings obtained by the immersion of a PEO-coated sample in 1,2,4-triazole solution for 24 h and following spraying the PVDF solution. The value of |Z|_f=0.1Hz for this protective layer increased by more than two orders of magnitude in comparison with the base PEO-layer. The three-stage mechanism of corrosion inhibition of the sample with smart inhibitor-containing coating was established.

Corrosion protection properties of tetraphenylethylene-based inhibitors toward carbon steel in acidic medium

Four novel corrosion inhibitors (1, 2, 3 and 4) integrating different tetraphenylethylene (TPE) cations and thiocyanate (SCN^-) anions were developed. Weight-loss and electrochemical measurements were employed to assess their protective properties toward carbon steel in 0.5 M H₂SO₄, revealing them as effective corrosion inhibitors in the order of 3 > 4 > 2 > 1, with the inhibition efficiencies of 2, 3 and 4 all exceeding 97%. The inhibitory effect could be attributed to hard and soft acids and bases theory and the synergistic effect of the charged ingredients. The efficiency trend of the corrosion inhibition, as well as inhibition mechanism, was verified by multi-scaled theoretical simulations combined with grand canonical Monte Carlo and molecular dynamic methods.

Fabrication of Encapsulated Gemini Surfactants

(1) Background: Encapsulation of surfactants is an innovative approach that allows not only protection of the active substance, but also its controlled and gradual release. This is primarily used to protect metallic surfaces against corrosion or to create biologically active surfaces. Gemini surfactants are known for their excellent anticorrosion, antimicrobial and surface properties; (2) Methods: In this study, we present an efficient methods of preparation of encapsulated gemini surfactants in form of alginate and gelatin capsules; (3) Results: The analysis of infrared spectra and images of the scanning electron microscope confirm the effectiveness of encapsulation; (4) Conclusions: Gemini surfactants in encapsulated form are promising candidates for corrosion inhibitors and antimicrobials with the possibility of protecting the active substance against environmental factors and the possibility of controlled outflow.

Artificial phosphatase upon premicellar nanoarchitectonics of lanthanum complexes with long-chained imidazole derivatives

Four novel long chain-containing tridentate imidazole derivatives (Lⁿ, n = 1, 2, 3, 4) were synthesized for in situ formation of mononuclear lanthanum(III) complexes as artificial phosphodiesterases. These in-situ formed La(III) complexes (named LaLⁿ) were used to catalyze the transesterification of 2-hydroxypropyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate (HPNP), a classic RNA model. Critical aggregation concentrations (CAC) were determined for the as-prepared tridentate imidazole derivatives as ligands and corresponding mixtures of equivalent ligand and La³⁺ ion with a mole rate of 1:1. It denotes that the introduction of La³⁺ ion increases the CAC values of imidazole derivatives by about 2 to 3 folds. Foaming test shows that the foam height is positively correlated with the length of hydrophobic chain. Transesterification of HPNP mediated by LaLⁿ nanoarchitectonics indicates that the introducing of hydrophobic chain benefits rate enhancement, showing excess three orders of magnitude acceleration under physiological conditions (pH 7.0, 25 °C). Moreover, catalytic reactivities of these La(III) complexes increased along with the increase in chain length: LaL¹ < LaL² < LaL³ < LaL⁴, suggesting a positive correlation to hydrophobic chain length.

Dicationic Herbicidal Ionic Liquids Comprising Two Active Ingredients Exhibiting Different Modes of Action

In the framework of this study, dicationic herbicidal ionic liquids (HILs) containing tetramethylene-1,4-bis(decyldimethylammonium) and dodecylmethylene-1,12-bis(decyldimethylammonium), including two different herbicidal anions exhibiting different modes of action, were synthesized and characterized. One herbicide incorporated into the HILs was a tribenuron-methyl belonging to ALS inhibitors, while the second herbicidal anion was a synthetic auxin that acts as a growth regulator, namely 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate (2,4-D), 2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)propionate, (2,4-DP), 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetate (2,4,5-T), 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetiate (MCPA), 2-(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)propionate (MCPP), and 4-chlorophenoxyacetate (4-CPA). The obtained products were found to be unstable and decomposed, which can be attributed to the presence of an additional methyl group within the sulfonylurea bridge of the tribenuron-methyl. The synthesized HILs exhibited good affinity with polar and semipolar solvents, with ethyl acetate and hexane as the only solvents that did not dissolve the HILs. Greenhouse tests demonstrated that most of the obtained HILs were more effective than the reference herbicide containing tribenuron-methyl. The length of the alkyl chain in the cation also influenced the effectiveness of the HILs. Better effects were observed for dodecylmethylene-1,12-bis(decyldimethylammonium) cations compared to tetramethylene-1,4-bis(decyldimethylammonium). Therefore, the novel dicatonic HILs showed to integrate the advent of the combination of the different herbicides into a single molecule, enhance herbicidal efficacy, and reduce the risk of weed resistance due to the various modes of action of the applied treatment.

Cationic gemini surfactant properties, its potential as a promising bioapplication candidate, and strategies for improving its biocompatibility: A review

Gemini surfactants consist of two cationic monomers of a surfactant linked together with a spacer. The specific structure of a cationic gemini surfactant is the reason for both its high surface activity and its ability to decrease the surface tension of water. The high surface activity and unique structure of gemini surfactants result in outstanding properties, including antibacterial and antifungal activity, anticorrosion properties, unique aggregation behaviour, the ability to form various structures reversibly in response to environmental conditions, and interactions with biomacromolecules such as DNA and proteins. These properties can be tailored by selecting the optimal structure of a gemini surfactant in terms of the nature and length of its alkyl substituents, spacer, and head group. Additionally, regarding their properties, comparison with their monomeric counterparts demonstrates that gemini surfactants have higher performance efficacy at lower concentrations. Hence, less material is needed, and the toxicity is lower. However, there are some limitations regarding their biocompatibility that have led researchers to develop amino acid-based and sugar-based gemini surfactants. Owing to their remarkable properties, cationic gemini surfactants are promising candidates for bioapplications such as drug delivery systems, gene carriers, and biomaterial surface modification.