Experimental and theoretical studies of paracetamol as a copper corrosion inhibitor

The utilization of copper as a material in various fields is well known. In such environments as a synthetic acid rain solution, various aggressive ions can be found that negatively affect the characteristics of copper, i.e. lead to its dissolution. The most common way to protect copper from dissolving is to use inhibitors. Therefore, in this paper, the possibility of expired paracetamol for preventing the corrosion of copper in a synthetic acid rain solution was investigated. The results obtained by electrochemical methods showed the resistance of copper to corrosion in the presence of paracetamol. Additionally, binary system of paracetamol and potassium sorbate showed higher inhibition efficiency (97%) in regard to paracetamol (96.3%). Furthermore, the calculated quantum chemical parameters as well ae Gibbs free energy confirmed the inhibitory ability of paracetamol achieved by adsorption on the copper surface. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study investigated the potential of expired paracetamol in preventing copper corrosion in a synthetic acid rain solution, showing that paracetamol can protect copper from dissolution. The binary system of paracetamol and potassium sorbate exhibited higher inhibition efficiency compared to paracetamol alone. Quantum chemical parameters and Gibbs free energy calculations confirmed the inhibitory ability of paracetamol by adsorption on the copper surface.