Utilization of expired drug Rosuvastatin as an efficient corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in 0.5 M H2SO4: a step toward the sustainability

J Kaur and A Saxena and KP Katin and E Berdimurodov and DK Verma, EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL PLUS, 140, 618 (2025).

DOI: 10.1140/epjp/s13360-025-06561-0

Expired pharmaceutical compounds offer a sustainable approach to reduce metal deterioration in acidic environments. This study investigates the use of expired rosuvastatin as a corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in 0.5 M hydrochloric acid. In this study, expired rosuvastatin is investigated for its effectiveness in lowering mild steel corrosion in 0.5 M hydrochloric acid. In this study, the effectiveness of inhibition, adsorption behavior, and potential eco-friendly application of expired rosuvastatin to industrial processes was investigated. In addition to electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), weight loss methods, and surface analysis techniques were basically used to investigate the effectiveness. At an optimal concentration of 200 ppm, the maximum inhibition efficiency reached 87.80% in weight loss tests, 88.93% in EIS, and 98.04% in PDP measurements. The adsorption of rosuvastatin on the mild steel surface follows the Langmuir isotherm, suggesting monolayer formation. Using expired rosuvastatin as a corrosion inhibitor offers significant environmental benefits by repurposing pharmaceutical waste that would otherwise contribute to pollution. This approach reduces the need for traditional chemical inhibitors that may be harmful to the environment. Additionally, by minimizing waste and promoting sustainability, it supports green economy principles and reduces the carbon footprint associated with manufacturing new inhibitors.

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