Application of expired co-amoxiclav medicinal drugs for corrosion inhibition of steel alloys used in petroleum industry in acidic environment

Abstract

Co-amoxiclav medicinal drug is one of the famous antibiotics used for the treatment of several bacterial infections. Large quantities of expired Co-amoxiclav accumulated worldwide in the environment making continuous hazards for biological systems and causing pollution for underground water when disposed in the environment. The present research introduces the idea for the application of expired Co-amoxiclav ampules in the corrosion inhibition of steel alloys in an aqueous acid environment, namely 1.0 M H2SO4. Expired Co-amoxiclav ampoules were used to control the corrosion of steel alloys in this aqueous acid environment. Techniques such as gravimetric, atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), acidimetric, gasometric, and thermometric technique were employed in the present study. The effects of drug concentrations, reaction temperature, and pH on the corrosion inhibition efficiency were studied. Adsorption studies indicate that it obeys the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The techniques used are in good agreement with each other (±2%) and indicate that expired Co-amoxiclav drug can be used as potential nontoxic green corrosion inhibitor for steel in industrial field at low pH. The Coamoxiclav antibacterial drug is considered as a multifunction green corrosion inhibitor for steel in the petroleum field.