Scientists from Perm Polytechnic University (PNRPU) and Kazan Federal University (KFU), together with colleagues from Iran and China, have created an environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitor for the oil and gas industry. A new solution based on natural components effectively protects equipment in extreme conditions.
Equipment corrosion in the oil and gas industry leads to 25% of accidents, which makes combating it one of the key tasks. Traditional corrosion inhibitors, although effective, contain toxic substances that are harmful to the environment. In response to this problem, scientists have developed a “green” inhibitor based on biopolymers and plant extracts.
The new composition is based on polyurethane and gum arabic – a natural resin obtained from acacia trees. The effectiveness of the inhibitor reaches 95%, which is confirmed by laboratory tests. The research results will be published in the journal Corrosion Science in 2025.
Natural gas, considered a greener source of energy, is produced in difficult conditions, including acidic environments with high hydrogen sulfide content. This increases equipment corrosion, shortening its service life. The new inhibitor developed by scientists is able to protect metal surfaces even in such extreme conditions.
Professor D. Martyushev, one of the authors of the study, noted that gum arabic, used as part of the inhibitor, has unique protective properties. It effectively coats metal surfaces, preventing their destruction. During the experiments, scientists synthesized three versions of polyurethane foam with different contents of gum arabic. The best result was shown by a composition with 17.2% polyurethane, which reduces corrosion by 94-95%.
A new corrosion inhibitor from scientists from PNIPU and KFU is a breakthrough in protecting equipment in the oil and gas industry. It not only increases the durability of metal structures, but is also safe for the environment. The implementation of this technology can significantly improve the stability and efficiency of natural gas production under extreme conditions.
Source: neftegaz.ru
