Inhibitory influence of cationic Gemini surfactant on the dissolution rate of N80 carbon steel in 15% HCl solution

Abstract

Strong acids are commonly used in petroleum wells to remove scale layers from the surface of N80 C-steel pipe. The corrosive effects of these acids, on the other hand, pose a significant risk to C-steel pipes. For the first time, we discovered the anti-corrosion properties of cationic Gemini surfactant, 1,2-bis(dodecyldimethylammonio) ethane dibromide (DMAEB), for N80 C-steel pipe in acid washing solution (15.0% HCl). The DMAEB, in particular, can reduce the corrosion rate of N80 C-steel by approximately 97%. DMAEB molecules work as a mixed-type corrosion inhibitor, according to electrochemical results. The DMAEB demonstrated a high inhibition effect at high temperatures, as well as high activation energy against the corrosion process. DMAEB's significant performance is primarily due to physical adsorption on the N80 C-steel surface, as confirmed by adsorption isotherms, SEM, EDX, FT-IR, and theoretical studies. Our findings shed new light on the use of Gemini surfactants as corrosion inhibitors in petroleum wells.