BEU Staff Member’s Article Published in a Q1 Journal

An article co-authored by Amil Aligayev, a researcher at the Scientific Research Center of Baku Engineering University (BEU), has been published in the Q1-ranked journal Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, indexed in the Scopus database.

The scientific article titled “Coupled experimental and theoretical investigation of an antidiabetic drug as a green corrosion inhibitor for low-carbon steel in acidic media” comprehensively investigates, through both experimental and theoretical methods, the effectiveness of expired metformin as an inhibitor for protecting low-carbon steel against corrosion in an acidic environment.

Within the framework of the study, weight loss measurements, electrochemical methods, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and digital image analysis (using the MIPAR software) were applied to evaluate the inhibitor effect within the concentration range of 100–600 ppm. The results showed that metformin demonstrates optimal efficiency at a concentration of 400 ppm, with an inhibition rate ranging from 84.9% to 89.4% across different methods. Surface analysis confirmed that 92.8% of the surface remained uncorroded at this concentration.

Electrochemical analyses revealed that metformin acts as a mixed-type inhibitor, suppressing both anodic and cathodic reactions. Quantum chemical calculations (DFT) indicated that the interaction between the inhibitor and the metal surface occurs through chemical adsorption via the electron pairs of nitrogen atoms.

The obtained results demonstrate the potential of using expired pharmaceutical substances as environmentally safe corrosion inhibitors and contribute to the principles of green chemistry and the circular economy.

For more detailed information, the article can be accessed via the following link:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1572665726002894?via%3Dihub