Fabrication and characterization of encapsulated Gemini cationic surfactant as anticorrosion material for carbon steel protection in down-hole pipelines

Nowadays, modern society is confronting a remarkable challenge to oil and gas production because of the associated corrosion problems that consider a standout amongst the most troublesome issues in the oil and gas industry. The process of transfer and controlling the release of corrosion inhibitors to the bottom of deep oil wells is a major problem. To address this pressing issue, an encapsulated tetramethyl-N,N-bis(3-palmitamido-propyl)propane-1,3-diaminium (TPPD) as an eco-friendly Gemini cationic surfactant has been engineered as anticorrosion material to protect carbon steel constructing the down-hole pipelines. The TPPD capsules were manufactured and encapsulated by gel capsules of calcium alginate. The release of the corrosion inhibitor TPPD was investigated in 0.5 M H2SO4/formation water solution over time. The FT-IR, and Thermal gravimetric (TGA) analysis have been conducted for investigating the successful engineering of the alginate TPPD capsule. The gradually release of TPPD from the engineered alginate capsules to the corrosive solution were studied using UV-visible spectroscopy. The efficacy of carbon steel protection by the encapsulated gemini surfactant was examined by Tafel polarization, electrochemical, and impedance spectroscopy. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) clarified the good protection of steel surface by the TPPD inhibitor. The released TPPD inhibitor behaves as a mixed type inhibitor with physisorption/chemisorption affinity based Langmuir adsorption isotherm. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The oil and gas industry is challenged by corrosion issues, but encapsulated TPPD has been developed as an eco-friendly anticorrosion material. Research shows that TPPD gradually releases from calcium alginate capsules, providing effective protection for carbon steel.