3D porous conductive matrix based on phase-transited BSA and covalent coupling-stabilized transition ZnS-CNT for antifouling and on-site detection of nitrite in soil.

Nitrite plays a critical role in a variety of nitrification and denitrification processes in the nitrogen cycle. Due to the high surface energy, tendency to aggregate, and poor conductivity, current nitrite ZnS-based sensing platform could not meet the need of on-site nitrite detection in smart agriculture. In order to address these issues, the carboxylated carbon nanotube (CNT) was introduced to reduce the surface energy and prevented aggregation of ZnS, while ZnS-carboxylated CNT (ZnS-CNT) composite also provided excellent electrochemical conductivity. Furthermore, the introduction of phase transition BSA (PTB) created a three-dimensional porous conductive matrix without interfering with the mass transfer process of nitrite. The resulting sensing platform exhibited a linear detection range of 10 nM to 0.4 mM for nitrite, with a detection limit of 0.73 nM. And this sensing platform had the excellent antifouling ability to direct detection nitrite in real soil suspension. In addition, the sensing platform demonstrated remarkable resistance to interferences from pH variations, microbial presence, and organic pollutants that usually present in soil environment. Therefore, on-site detection of nitrite ions in soil environment was realized no needing complex pretreatments.

A New Imidazole Derivative for Corrosion Inhibition of Q235 Carbon Steel in an Acid Environment.

Q235 carbon steel is a commonly used engineering material, but its application in marine environments is limited by its susceptibility to corrosion, especially localized corrosion that can lead to material perforation. Effective inhibitors are crucial to addressing this issue, particularly in acidic environments where localized areas become increasingly acidic. This study reports the synthesis of a new imidazole derivative corrosion inhibitor and evaluates its effectiveness in corrosion inhibition performance using potentiodynamic polarization curve and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques. High-resolution optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were employed for surface morphology analysis. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was used to explore the protection mechanisms. The results demonstrate that the self-synthesized imidazole derivative corrosion inhibitor offers an excellent corrosion protection performance for Q235 carbon steel in a 3.5 wt. % NaCl acidic solution. This inhibitor can provide a new strategy for carbon steel corrosion protection.

Facile Hydrogels of AIEgens Applied as Reusable Sensors for In Situ and Early Warning of Metallic Corrosion.

Early detection of metallic corrosion is one considerable method to reduce imperceptible disasters nowadays. Fluorescent coatings with high sensitivity and long lifetimes for use in the early detection of metallic corrosion are in high demand, but they are presently difficult to prepare. Inspired by the chameleon's skin, which is capable of switching its color in different atmospheres sensitively and reversibly, we proposed herein a facile and universal all-in-one strategy of combining the fluorescent sensitivity and dynamic hydrogen bonds in a hydrogel to develop a reusable corrosion detection tape to cover metal surfaces. The fluorescent hydrogel tape was constructed using free radical copolymerization of monomers [hydroxyethyl methylacrylate (HEMA) and tetraphenylethene derivatives (TPEPy)]. Due to the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) behavior of TPEPy, the poly(HEMA-co-TPEPy) hydrogel is capable of monitoring the traces of corrosion via the release of ferric ions with a concentration as low as 10-5 M. Moreover, due to the dynamic hydrogen bonds of hydroxyethyl groups in hydrogel networks, the fluorescent hydrogel tape exhibited good adhesion and well reusability for over 10 applications to effectively warn against early corrosion of stainless steel. This non-destructive and reversible method of early corrosion detection can provide valuable signals when maintenance is needed before the metal suffers serious damage.

Corrosion inhibition of deposit-covered X80 pipeline steel in seawater containing Pseudomonas stutzeri.

Under-deposit corrosion, a typical corrosion type, is a major threat to the safe running of pipeline steel in marine environment. Under-deposit corrosion behaviour and mechanism still require further investigation, especially when there is participation of microorganisms. In this work, the inhibition of corrosion of deposit-covered X80 pipeline steel due to the presence of Pseudomonas stutzeri in seawater containing CO2 was investigated using weight loss, electrochemical measurements, a wire beam electrode and surface analysis. The results show that steel corrosion rates decline rapidly due to the covered deposit in the presence or absence P. stutzeri, but corrosion rates were slower in the presence of P. stutzeri. The highest corrosion rates were (0.365 ± 0.021) mm/y and (0.230 ± 0.001) mm/y in abiotic and biotic conditions, respectively. The corrosion inhibition efficiency of P. stutzeri was reduced in the presence of deposits, because the deposits led to a lowered biological activity. The galvanic current density between deposit-covered and bare specimens in seawater was weakened by P. stutzeri, leading to diminshed corrosion, especially pitting corrosion.

Effect of marine microalgae Synechococcus sp., Chlorella sp., Thalassiosira sp. on corrosion behavior of Q235 carbon steel in f/2 medium.

The effect of marine microalgae on the corrosion behavior of carbon steel (CS) still needs further investigation due to their dual roles. In this study, the corrosion behavior of Q235 CS specimens in f/2 medium with absence and presence of three classes of marine microalgae Synechococcus sp., Chlorella sp., and Thalassiosira sp. was investigated during a 16-day immersion period by the weight loss, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, potentiodynamic polarization curve, and surface analysis techniques. The biomass of the three microalgae was monitored at the same time. The results showed that the values of weight loss and corrosion current density decreased, and the values of charge transfer resistance increased in the CS specimens treated with these microalgae. On day 16, the inhibition efficiency of Thalassiosira sp. group was the highest (80.78%), followed by Chlorella sp. group (70.80%), and finally Synechococcus sp. group (69.38%). But the inhibition efficiency diminished with time. Furthermore, in these microalgal treatment groups, the passivation films were found to consist of a biofilm and a corrosion product film. This study revealed that the three microalgae can effectively strengthen the barrier of the CS specimens in the f/2 medium, leading to slow down their corrosion rates.

Microbiological corrosion acceleration of N80 steel in shale gas field produced water containing Citrobacter amalonaticus at 60 °C.

Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is one of typical reasons leading to a lot of damage of pipeline steels in the shale gas environments. MIC behavior and mechanism studies are important towards to steel protection. In this work, Citrobacter amalonaticus, a corrosive bacterium, was isolated from a shale gas well of China. And the corrosion behavior of N80 steel caused by C. amalonaticus was studied in simulated shale gas produced water at 60 °C making use of weight loss, surface analysis, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), anodic potentiostatic polarization measurements, and potentiodynamic polarization curves. Results demonstrate that C. amalonaticus could accelerate the uniform and localized corrosion rates of N80 steel at 60 °C with values of (0.221 ± 0.016) and (0.557 ± 0.062) mm/y, respectively. Experimental results suggested that the adsorption of an organic inhibitor film on steel surface caused the corrosion rates of abiotic specimens going down. However, the existence of C. amalonaticus inhibited the adsorption of organic inhibitor film. The adhesion and biofilm formation of C. amalonaticus contributed to steel corrosion acceleration. The nucleation and growth of metastable pitting were enhanced by C. amalonaticus, thus causing a severe localized corrosion.