Environmentally Friendly Nonionic Surfactants Derived from Jatropha Oil Fatty Acids as Inhibitors for Carbon Steel Corrosion in Acidic Medium

The inhibition effect of four novel environmentally friendly inhibitors (derived from vanillin and a fatty acid mixture obtained from the hydrolysis of Jatropha oil) on carbon steel corrosion in 0.5 M H2SO4 was investigated by weight loss, potentiodynamic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results show high efficiency of the inhibitors. The inhibition efficiency increases by increasing the polyethylene glycol chain length and the inhibitor concentration. From polarization curves, the inhibitors act as cathodic inhibitors. EIS spectra display a large capacitive loop at high frequencies followed by a large inductive loop at low frequencies. Environmental study shows inhibitors tendency towards biodegradation by the action of microorganisms after 28 days.