Investigation of Sulfonium-Iodide-Based Ionic Liquids to Inhibit Corrosion of API 5L X52 Steel in Different Flow Regimes in Acid Medium

Current Overview of Corrosion Inhibition of API Steel in Different Environments

API (American Petroleum Institute) steels are the most employed metal alloys in the oil industry due to their outstanding mechanical properties; however, their protection is considered as an imperative matter because of their corrosion damage vulnerability when exposed to different surroundings that provoke a rate increase in the concomitant redox reactions. This problematic situation becomes more relevant when the generation and/or use of one or various aqueous corrosive environments occur, in addition to process conditions, the result of which is extremely difficult to be controlled. For these reasons, the internal and external protection of exposed metallic systems are considered as a fundamental concern, where internal corrosion is often controlled through the addition of corrosion inhibitors (CIs). The present review analyzes researchers' contributions in the last years to the study and evaluation of CIs for API steel in different corrosive media featuring HCl, H2SO4, H3NSO3H, CO2, H2S, NaCl, and production water under different temperature and flow conditions. Different CIs derived from plant extracts, drugs, nanoparticles, or ionic liquids, mainly destined for acid media, were found. Throughout the review, an exhaustive analysis of inhibition process results is carried out based on gravimetric and/or electrochemical techniques that consider the weight loss of the metallic material and electrical behavior (current density, resistance, capacitance, frequency, impedance, etc.). Likewise, the results of computational analyses and those of surface analysis techniques were taken into account to reinforce the study of CIs.

Synthesis of Ammonium-Based ILs with Different Lengths of Aliphatic Chains and Organic Halogen-Free Anions as Corrosion Inhibitors of API X52 Steel

In the present work, synthesis and characterization of 15 ionic liquids (ILs) derived from quaternary ammonium and carboxylates were carried out in order to proceed to their evaluation as corrosion inhibitors (CIs) of API X52 steel in 0.5 M HCl. Potentiodynamic tests confirmed the inhibition efficiency (IE) as a function of the chemical configuration of the anion and cation. It was observed that the presence of two carboxylic groups in long linear aliphatic chains reduced the IE, whereas in shorter chains it was increased. Tafel-polarization results revealed the ILs as mixed-type CIs and that the IE was directly proportional to the CI concentration. The compounds with the best IE were 2-amine-benzoate of N,N,N-trimethyl-hexadecan-1-ammonium ([THDA⁺][^-AA]), 3-carboxybut-3-enoate of N,N,N-trimethyl-hexadecan-1-ammonium ([THDA⁺][^-AI]), and dodecanoate of N,N,N-trimethyl-hexadecan-1-ammonium ([THDA⁺][^-AD]) within the 56-84% interval. Furthermore, it was found that the ILs obeyed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model and inhibited the corrosion of steel through a physicochemical process. Finally, the surface analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed less steel damage in the presence of CI due to the inhibitor-metal interaction.

Temperature Effect on the Corrosion Inhibition of Carbon Steel by Polymeric Ionic Liquids in Acid Medium

In the present research work, the temperature effect on the corrosion inhibition process of API 5L X60 steel in 1 M H2SO4 by employing three vinylimidazolium poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) was studied by means of electrochemical techniques, surface analysis and computational simulation. The results revealed that the maximal inhibition efficiency (75%) was achieved by Poly[VIMC4][Im] at 308 K and 175 ppm. The PILs showed Ecorr displacements with respect to the blank from −14 mV to −31 mV, which revealed the behavior of mixed-type corrosion inhibitors (CIs). The steel micrographs, in the presence and absence of PILs, showed less surface damage in the presence of PILs, thus confirming their inhibiting effect. The computational studies of the molecular orbitals and molecular electrostatic potential of the monomers suggested that the formation of a protecting film could be mainly due to the nitrogen and oxygen heteroatoms present in each structure.