Deployment of Antepsin (Sucralfate) as Corrosion Inhibitor of Mild Steel in H2SO4 Medium: Chemical and Electrochemical Studies

This study presents the deployment of antepsin (sucralfate) as corrosion inhibitor of mild steel in H2SO4 medium. Chemical (gravimetric) and electrochemical (potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) techniques were used in the corrosion control investigation. The antepsin drug was characterized by gas chromatography mass spectrophotometer (GCMS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Effects of inhibitor concentration, temperature and time on weight loss, corrosion rate, inhibition efficiency and degree of surface coverage were examined. Thermodynamic and adsorption properties of the corrosion inhibition process were determined. Inhibition efficiency was optimized using central composite design tool of Design Expert software version 12. Potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were employed to determine the type and effectiveness of the inhibitor. As a confirmatory test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to examine the surface morphology of the mild steel samples. Analysis of the results showed that major constituents of antepsin include tetradecanoate, metronidazole, hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester and 11-octadecenoic acid. The predominant functional groups include; C=O stretch, C-H bend and symmetric and asymmetric =C-O-C. Adsorption of the molecules of antepsin on the surface of the mild steel was spontaneous and occurred in agreement with physical adsorption. A quadratic model adequately described the relationship between inhibition efficiency and corrosion control variables of concentration of the inhibitor, temperature and time. Optimum inhibition efficiency of antepsin was obtained as 86.75%. Chemical and electrochemical results agreed that antepsin is suitable for corrosion control of mild steel in H2SO4 solution. Antepsin acted as mixed-type inhibitor (controlled both cathodic and anodic reactions).