Surfactant-based strategies for the inhibition of microbiologically influenced corrosion: Recent progress and mechanistic insights

Amphiphilic molecules like surfactants can mediate between two domains of opposite solvent compatibility like water and organic. Therefore, they possess functionalities like adsorption and organised self-assembly formation at interfaces. Owing to their film-forming ability, antimicrobial nature, and corrosion-resistant properties these molecules have potential applications in the field of surface engineering and biological chemistry. Herein, we have focused the application of hybrid surfactants with enhanced self-assembly features as inhibitors of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). MIC is a global issue and a matter of concern for scientists working in different areas of surface engineering like surgical devices, bio-implants and oil-gas industries because if microbial colonization initiates on the host substrate; it is not curable and ultimately leads to system failure. Therefore, the inhibition of MIC is of utmost importance and efforts must be laid to develop ecologically sustainable and efficient chemical inhibitors for biofilm colonizers. Keeping in mind the devastating consequences of MIC, we have reviewed value-added surfactants with biofilm disruption ability and the mechanism behind their inhibitory action. The key highlights of this review article are recent advances in targeting the MIC by hierarchical surfactants, for example, surfactants with metal coordination (metallosurfactants), surfactants derived from biological species (Biosurfactants), and Gemini surfactants. Furthermore, the working mechanisms involved in the inhibitory action of these surface-active agents towards corrosion and MIC have been discussed.