Streptomycin: A commercially available drug as corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in hydrochloric acid solution

The corrosion inhibition of mild steel in 1 M HCl solution by Streptomycin has been studied by Tafel polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and weight loss measurement. The inhibitor showed 88.5% inhibition efficiency at optimum concentration 500 ppm. Results obtained revealed that inhibition occurs through adsorption of the drug on metal surface without modifying the mechanism of corrosion process. Potentiodynamic polarization studies suggest that it is a mixed type of inhibitor. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques were also used to investigate the mechanism of corrosion inhibition.