Corrosion inhibition effect of a benzimidazole derivative on heat exchanger tubing materials during acid cleaning of multistage flash desalination plants

A benzimidazole derivative, 2-(2-bromophenyl)-1-methyl-1H-benzimidazole (2BPB) has been studied as a corrosion inhibitor for Cu-Ni 70/30 and 90/10 alloys in 1 mol/dm³ HCl solution at low and high temperatures using the weight loss, electrochemical (potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), & cyclic voltammetry (CV)), and surface characterization (scanning electron microscopy (SEM) & Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)) techniques. The effect of immersion time (up to 72 h) and addition of iodide ions on the inhibition efficiency of 2BPB have also been investigated. At low temperature, 1.0 g/L 2BPB inhibits Cu-Ni 70/30 and 90/10 alloys by 88.9 ± 4.8% and 57.5 ± 1.3%, respectively. The performance of 2BPB improves with increase in immersion time and addition of iodide ions but slightly depreciates with rise in temperature. 2BPB acts as a mixed type corrosion inhibitor and adsorbs on the alloys surfaces through physical adsorption mechanism. SEM and FTIR results confirm the adsorption of 2BPB on the alloys surfaces. 2BPB is a potential low toxic candidate for the formulation of acid corrosion inhibitor for Cu-Ni alloys.