Simplified approach to performance evaluation of selected organic compounds for corrosion inhibitor application in petrochemical plants

Abstract

Corrosion inhibitors have been researched into, studied and applied in numerous industries worldwide to mitigate the electrochemical deterioration of carbon steels in contact with aggressive medium. Effective and sustainable application of corrosion inhibitors in the oil and gas industry necessitates compatibility with the corrosive environment, non-toxicity and must be economical. Corrosion coupon measurement is the oldest and most widely used corrosion monitoring technique. The traditional approach to evaluate the viability of corrosion inhibitor focuses on inhibitor efficiency. Prevailing industry conditions shows this factor alone is insufficient for evaluation of organic chemical inhibitor compounds. This manuscript focuses on the importance and effect of inhibitor concentration, exposure time and Gibbs free energy in evaluating inhibitor performance and on the selection and suitability of organic chemical compounds for corrosion inhibitors.