Corrosion inhibition of mild steel by the hydrolysate of an imidazoline-based inhibitor in CO-saturated solution.

The synthesized imidazoline phosphate quaternary ammonium salt has low stability, which is spontaneously and rapidly hydrolyzed to the long-chain fatty acid amide (LFA). The hydrolysate (LFA) has been found to be an efficient inhibitor for Q235 steel against CO corrosion, which yields a maximum value above 90% at a concentration of 1000 mg L. The LFA inhibitor acts as an anodic type inhibitor and its inhibition mechanism is a "negative catalysis effect".