Insight into the corrosion inhibition mechanism of mild steel St1 in 2 M H2SO4 electrolyte by azithromycin

Mild steel is essential in modern industry due to its favorable mechanical properties and economic availability. However, its high susceptibility to corrosion, especially in acidic environments, poses a significant challenge, reducing service life, increasing operating costs, and raising the risk of failures. This study investigates the corrosion inhibition mechanism of mild steel St1 in a 2 M H2SO4 solution at various temperatures using the broad-spectrum antibiotic azithromycin (AZM). Experimental results indicate that AZM presence increases the polarization resistance of mild steel in the acidic solution. AZM acts as a mixed-type inhibitor, influencing the kinetics of both cathodic and anodic processes. The introduction of 200 mM AZM leads to an increase in the polarization resistance of the steel electrode in 2 M H2SO4 by up to 2.4 times. The inhibition mechanism involves forming a protective layer of protonated AZM forms on the negatively charged Fe surface. These protonated forms can also adsorb on cathodic areas, competing with hydronium ions (H3O+) and thereby inhibiting hydrogen evolution processes. The protective effect of AZM diminishes with increasing temperature of the corrosive environment, as confirmed by Monte Carlo simulations showing decreased adsorption energies for AZM and its protonated forms at higher temperatures. An assessment of the protective effect of 200 mM AZM showed that an increase in the temperature of the corrosive environment from 293 to 333 K leads to a decrease in the protective effect by almost 5.6 times. Quantum chemical calculations determined the reactivity of AZM and its protonated forms, identifying the molecular groups involved in the adsorption mechanism. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.