Synthesis, surface activity, and corrosion inhibition capabilities of new non-ionic gemini surfactants

Abstract Several environmentally acceptable non-ionic gemini surfactants are synthesized in this work using natural sources, including polyethenoxy di-dodecanoate (GSC12), polyethenoxy di-hexadecanoate (GSC16), and polyethenoxy di-octadecenoate (GSC18). The produced surfactants are confirmed by spectrum studies using FT-IR, 1 HNMR, and 13 CNMR. It explored and examined how the length of the hydrocarbon chain affected essential properties like foaming and emulsifying abilities. Surface tension examinations are used to assess the surface activity of the examined gemini surfactants. The lower value of critical micelle concentrations (0.381 × 10 −4 M) is detected for GSC18. Their spontaneous character is shown by the negative values of the free energy of adsorption (ΔG ads ) and micellization (ΔG mic ) which arranged in the order GSC18 > GSC16 > GSC12. Based on theoretical, weight loss, and electrochemical investigations, these novel surfactants were investigated for their possible use in inhibiting carbon steel from corroding in 1 M HCl. Measuring results show that GSC18 inhibits corrosion in carbon steel by 95.4%. The isotherm of adsorption evaluated for the investigated inhibitors and their behavior obeys Langmuir isotherm.