Severe corrosion of copper in a highly alkaline egg white solution due to a biuret corrosion reaction

• Egg whites can accelerate the corrosion of copper.
• The corrosion rate of copper is closely related to the pH values.
• The mechanism of the strong corrosion is due to a biuret corrosion reaction.

Through investigating the interaction between copper metal and egg whites as well as the effects of pH, oxygen and the species of alkalis on copper corrosion rate, an unusual severe corrosion of copper metal in a highly alkaline egg white solution was found. The mechanism was investigated through detailed characterizations using a scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV–visible absorption spectroscopy. The severe corrosion was mainly due to the formation of a hydroxyl–peptide–copper multicomponent stable soluble complex, which the biuret reaction also produces.