COMBINATIONS OF IMIDAZOLINES AND WETTING AGENTS AS ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE CORROSION INHIBITORS

摘要

A method and corrosion inhibitor for inhibiting corrosion of metal equipment in an aqueous medium comprising components selected from the group consistin g of Skeletonema costatum, fish, other algae, and a combination thereof. The method comprises incorporating into the medium a corrosion inhibiting amount of a water soluble corrosion inhibitor comprising an N-ethoxy, 2-substituted imidazoline. The N-ethoxy substituent comprises a quantity of ethylene oxide effective to render the imidazoline water soluble. The corrosion inhibitor i s rendered more environmentally compatible by shortening the number of carbon atoms in the fatty acid chain at the 2-position of the imidazoline. The fatt y acid chain consists essentially about 18 carbon atoms or less, preferably about 10 carbon atoms or less, most preferably from about 6 to about 8 carbo n atoms. As the number of carbon atoms in the fatty acid chain is reduced, the efficacy of the corrosion inhibitor is increased by combination with a wetti ng agent, preferably an ethoxylated alcohol having from about 8 to about 10 carbon atoms.