Inhibition of Acid and Bio-corrosion of Pipeline Steel Using Tabersonine: Experimental, DFT and Molecular Dynamics Simulations Approaches

Tabersonine (TAB) is demonstrated as ecofriendly new material that inhibits of pipeline steel corrosion in both acid and microbial (Desulfovibrio sp) environments. At 0.85 mg/mL (2.5 mM) minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), TAB inhibits bio-corrosion induced by the sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) with efficiency of 61.9% and 51.9% at 30 °C and 60 °C, respectively. Also, 10.0 mM TAB is 90.8% and 88.1% efficient in inhibiting corrosion of X80 steel in 1 M HCl at 30 °C and 60 °C, respectively. FTIR, SEM/EDS, local selectivity and adsorption studies at computational level confirm that TAB molecules can provide surface protection by spontaneous physical and chemical adsorption on steel surface via O, N and C=C sites. TAB serves as mixed type inhibitor with dominant influence on anodic reaction; its addition to the acid solution reduces surface roughness by 46.7%. Instead of using different materials for mitigation of microbial and acid induced corrosion, TAB can be a cost effective, efficient alternative.