Joint Action of Hydrogen Sulfide and Organic Compounds On Corrosion and Embrittlement of Iron in Sulfuric Acid

Abstract

Abstract Although hydrogen sulfide is known to be highly corrosive to iron, it has been found that the presence of H2S actually enhances the inhibiting qualities of certain classes of organic compounds when employed as inhibitors of iron corrosion in sulfuric acid solutions. At the same time, the corrosivity of the hydrogen sulfide itself is eliminated and hydrogen embrittlement prevented. Certain other classes of organic compounds do not have these inhibiting qualities under similar conditions but instead tend to intensify attack by hydrogen sulfide. Experimental results, polarization curves for the systems tested, and sulfur adsorption measurements on iron provide preliminary information on the mechanism of the joint action of organic compounds and hydrogen sulfide on iron corrosion in acid media.