Organic corrosion inhibitors for steel pipelines in oilfields

N-benzyl triethanol ammonium chloride (BTAC) and ethoxylated n-benzyl triethanol ammonium chloride (EBTAC) were synthesized. The prepared compounds were characterized, then tested for their evaluation as corrosion inhibitors for steel pipelines in typical crude oil and residual fuel oil (RFO) media through weight loss determination. In addition, the surface properties of the investigated compounds were studied through surface tension measurements in a hydrocarbon system. Calculations of the surface and thermodynamic properties of the tested compounds were undertaken on the basis of the obtained experimental data. Results showed that the two additives achieved a substantial decrease in the corrosion rate and that EBTAC exhibited improved surface and thermodynamic properties and attained more inhibition effect.