Synthesis of betaine-fatty acid ionic liquid as potential anticorrosion inhibitor

There is a growing demand for eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors made from low-toxicity materials for mild steel. Eco-friendly inhibitors are formulated using safe raw materials combined with various environmentally sustainable components. Herein, we report the corrosion inhibitory effect of the betaine-fatty ionic liquid, [Bet][FA]IL, on mild steel in a highly alkaline solution (3.5 M NaCl). To evaluate its performance, a range of electrochemical techniques, including potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), along with weight loss measurements, were employed. Remarkably, an inhibition efficiency of 88.56% was achieved at 500 ppm, with corresponding corrosion current density values decreasing from 26.00 µA at 0 ppm to 7.460 µA at 500 ppm. Moreover, the synthesized IL capable of suppressing both anodic and cathodic as the corrosion processes was reduced when the concentration of the inhibitor used increase. Additionally, the Nuclei Magnetic Resonance analysis confirmed the chemical structure of the synthesized [Bet][FA]IL. This study demonstrates that the environmentally friendly [Bet][FA]IL shows great promise as an anticorrosion agent to protect mild steel from corrosion in highly alkaline conditions, suggesting it may serve as a safer alternative to traditional, harmful corrosion inhibitors. Additionally, this work highlights the innovative use of betaine-fatty ionic liquids in corrosion protection.