In the quest to combat corrosion, an unexpected ally has emerged from the most unlikely of places: the medicine cabinet. Researchers from Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, formerly known as Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hindi University, in Bhopal, India, have discovered that expired ivermectin, a drug typically used to treat parasitic infections, shows remarkable potential as a corrosion inhibitor for mild steel. This finding, published in a recent study in Corrosion Communications, could revolutionize corrosion management in industries ranging from oil and gas to infrastructure and manufacturing.
Corrosion is a pervasive and costly problem, costing industries billions of dollars annually in repairs, maintenance, and lost productivity. In the energy sector alone, corrosion-related issues can lead to equipment failures, environmental hazards, and significant financial losses. Traditional corrosion inhibitors, while effective, often come with environmental and health concerns. This is where the innovative work of Jeetendra Bhawsar, the lead author of the study, comes into play.
Bhawsar and his team conducted a comprehensive multi-method investigation to evaluate the corrosion inhibition potential of expired ivermectin on mild steel. Using techniques such as gravimetry, thermometry, potentiodynamic analysis, and computational modeling, they found that the expired drug demonstrated impressive inhibitory properties in a highly corrosive environment—specifically, a solution containing 2 mol/L of sulfuric acid.
“The results were quite surprising,” Bhawsar said. “At a concentration of 500 mg/L, the expired ivermectin exhibited approximately 90% inhibition efficiency at room temperature, even after 6 hours of immersion time.”
This discovery opens up new avenues for the repurposing of expired pharmaceuticals, not just as corrosion inhibitors but potentially in other industrial applications as well. The implications for the energy sector are particularly significant. Acid washing is a common process in oil and gas operations to remove scale and other deposits from equipment. The use of expired ivermectin as a corrosion inhibitor in these processes could enhance the efficiency and longevity of equipment, reducing downtime and maintenance costs.
However, the journey from lab to field is fraught with challenges. Further research is needed to optimize the use of expired ivermectin under different conditions and to ensure its safety and efficacy in real-world applications. Bhawsar emphasizes the need for continued investigation: “While our findings are promising, we need to conduct more studies to fully understand the mechanisms at play and to explore the potential of this drug in various industrial settings.”
The study, published in Corrosion Communications, marks a significant step forward in the quest for sustainable and effective corrosion management solutions. As industries continue to seek ways to mitigate the impacts of corrosion, the repurposing of expired pharmaceuticals like ivermectin could provide a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional inhibitors.
This research not only highlights the potential of interdisciplinary approaches in solving complex industrial problems but also underscores the importance of innovation in addressing long-standing challenges. As Bhawsar and his team continue their work, the construction and energy sectors watch with keen interest, eager to see how this unexpected discovery might shape the future of corrosion management.