This SBIR Phase I project will evaluate the feasibility of producing bio-based, environmentally benign, products for the prevention and treatment of corrosion and scale from low-value agricultural by-product streams. These by-products are generally available in large quantities and fairly uniform composition.
The broader/commercial impact of the proposed project will be introduction of a line of relatively high value biodegradable corrosion and scale inhibitors that make use of agricultural by-products that are currently used in low-value applications. These products will also provide environmental benefits to both producers and users due to the use of renewable feed stocks and the environmentally benign nature of the materials.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project, "Bio-Based corrosion Inhibitors" IIP-1013904, evaluated the feasibility of producing bio-based, environmentally benign, products for the prevention and treatment of corrosion and scale from low-value agricultural by-product streams. Selected agricultural by-product materials (feedstocks) were screened for corrosion prevention on steel, galvanized steel, copper, and aluminum; and removal of scale and existing surface corrosion. A variety of separation techniques were applied to promising materials in an attempt to concentrate and/or identify the effective components. Augmentation of selected materials with complementary additives was used to explore synergistic enhancement of performance. All of this work was conducted with ultimate commercialization in mind; using inexpensive and readily available feedstocks and commercially practical processing approaches. In addition to identifying several potential products for commercialization, a screening protocol was developed to more rapidly evaluate future candidate feedstocks. None of the test materials were found to be of commercial interest for scale or rust removal, as they were either ineffective or needed to be used at high concentration. One feedstock was found to be very promising for use in volatile corrosion inhibitor (VCI) products, particularly if augmented with selected additives. This feedstock contains high concentrations of the active ingredients, which is fortunate, as no method was identified to effectively increase the observed activity. Extracts of a second feedstock showed promise for use in prevention of steel corrosion. One extract showed good performance in protection of steel in contact with sea water or acidic solutions, and has commercial potential for use in several products. A different extract also protected steel in the presents of salts, and shows potential for use in deicing applications. As expected, these feedstocks are a complex mix of a large number of organic and inorganic compounds. The applied analytical techniques were of limited success in linking specific compounds to the observed corrosion inhibiting properties. The cost to the US economy, due to corrosion, is estimated at over $300 billion per year. As a result, the market for products to prevent, control, and remove corrosion is huge. New products that are renewable, biodegradable, and non-hazardous are of particular interest at the present time due to growing awareness and perception of health, safety, and environmental impacts of many incumbent products. The introduction of several new products is anticipated based on the project work. They will be formulated from agricultural by-products produced here in the United States. Benefits will include: additional revenue for agricultural producers and processors, expected increases in exports, and environmental benefits to both producers and users (due to the use of renewable feedstocks and the environmentally benign nature of the materials).
