CO2 corrosion inhibition by hydroxyethyl, aminoethyl, and amidoethyl imidazolines in water-oil mixtures

The corrosion behavior of hydroxyethyl, amino ethyl and amid ethyl imidazolines corrosion inhibitors was evaluated by using potenthiodynamic polarization curves, linear polarization resistance, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques. Solutions included deaerated 3% NaCl, 3% NaCl+diesel saturated with CO2 at 50 degrees C with and without inhibitors. Regardless of the presence of diesel, the corrosion rate was decreased with the addition of the inhibitors, but the time to reach a steady state was longer than when the oily part, i.e., diesel, was present. In the absence of the oily part, the impedance results showed that the film formed was porous, allowing the electrolyte to diffuse through it and corrode the metal. When the oily part was present, the film formed was much more stable, not porous, and did not allow the electrolyte to corrode the sample. The most efficient inhibitor was the amid ethyl imidazoline, whereas the least efficient was the hydroxyethyl imidazoline, because the film formed by the former was much more stable from the beginning of the test.