1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium methane sulfonate ionic liquid corrosion inhibitor for mild steel alloy: Experimental, optimization and theoretical studies

Daniel Iheanacho Udunwa; Okechukwu Dominic Onukwuli; Mathew Chukwudi Menkiti; Valentine Chikaodili Anadebe; Maduabuchi Arinzechukwu Chidiebere

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18353

1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium methane sulfonate ionic liquid corrosion inhibitor for mild steel alloy: Experimental, optimization and theoretical studies

Heliyon. 2023 Jul 14;9(7):e18353. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18353. eCollection 2023 Jul.

Authors

Daniel Iheanacho Udunwa^{1

2}, Okechukwu Dominic Onukwuli², Mathew Chukwudi Menkiti², Valentine Chikaodili Anadebe^{3

4

5}, Maduabuchi Arinzechukwu Chidiebere⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Polymer and Textile Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
² Department of Chemical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
³ Corrosion and Materials Protection Division, CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Karaikudi 630003, Tami Nadu, India.
⁴ Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
⁵ Department of Chemical Engineering, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike, P.M.B. 1010, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
⁶ Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The current research reports the performance of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methane sulfonate ([C₄MIM][OMs](IL)) as effective corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in 1 M H₂SO₄ electrolyte. For proper evaluation, weight loss, electrochemical study, theoretical modeling and optimization techniques were used. Weight loss and electrochemical methods shows that the inhibition performance of [C₄MIM][OMs] on the metal surface strengthens as the concentration increases. Maximum inhibition efficiency of 85.71%, 92.5% and 91.1% at 0.8 g L^-1 concentration of [C₄MIM][OMs] were obtained from the weight loss, polarization and impedance studies, respectively. In addition, response surface methodology (RSM) a statistical tool was used for modeling and optimization of the empirical data. The RSM model validates the empirical findings. Also, DFT/MD-simulation investigations evidenced that [C₄MIM][OMs] forms a barrier film on the mild steel surface. The result shows that the synthesized [C₄MIM][OMs] could open up opportunities in corrosion and materials protection for sustainability.

Keywords: Acid corrosion; Electrochemical; Ionic liquid; MD-Simulation; Mild steel.