Anti-bacterial and anti-corrosion effects of the ionic liquid 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium trifluoromethylsulfonate

In this paper we report on the antibacterial and anticorrosion impacts of the ionic liquid 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium trifluoromethylsulfonate ([Py1,4]TfO). The results reveal that the employed ionic liquid can effectively inhibit the planktonic and sessile bacterial growth, and the inhibition efficiency is dependent on the ionic liquid concentration. Compared with planktonic bacteria, higher concentrations of [Py1,4]TfO are needed, about 2-3 times, for sessile bacteria to get the same inhibition efficiency. The inhibition effect of [Py1,4]TfO on the corrosion of mild steel in 3.5% NaCl solutions was also explored. The potentiodynamic polarization and impedance spectroscopy results indicate the anticorrosion influence of the employed ionic liquid. A concentration of about 100 ppm [Py1,4]TfO can effectively inhibit the corrosion of mild steel with efficiency of more than 80%. The corrosion inhibition influence of [Py1,4]TfO is ascribed to the adsorptive interaction of the ionic liquid species with the surface of mild steel and formation of a protective layer against the corrosion attack.