Resumen
Crude glycerol, a byproduct of biodiesel production, was evaluated as a potential green inhibitor for steel corrosion in an acidic environment. The study was conducted using steel specimens placed in hydrochloric acid solutions (0.5 M) at a constant room temperature (25 °C) and crude glycerol concentrations in the range 0.1%?1.0% w/w. The criteria used to evaluate the extent of corrosion were the weight loss and corrosion rate. Additionally, fresh and spent samples were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and potentiodynamic polarization measurements. It was found that, generally, the corrosion inhibition increased with the inhibitor concentration. Results also showed that the maximum inhibition efficiency was achieved at 70 h residence time after which the inhibition efficiency at a given concentration either remained unchanged or dropped slight. Additionally, the overall maximum inhibition efficiency (98%) was observed at 70 h residence time and a 1% inhibitor concentration.