Polypeptide Inhibitors of Mineral Scaling and Corrosion
Abstract
In the first year of the project, the work has been focused on 1) synthesis of polypeptides, 2) evaluation of their activities as inhibitors of calcium carbonate and phosphate crystallization, and 3) measurement of their activities as inhibitors of corrosion of mild steel. A set of polyaspartate molecules of specific molecular sizes and other aspartate-enriched peptides were made by automated solid phase methods. Polyaspartate molecules with 1 to 3 serine residues at the N-terminus were phosphorylated post-synthesis using monochlorophosphoric acid. The polyaspartate molecules were very effective inhibitors of calcium carbonate but not calcium phosphate crystallization. Polyaspartate was most effective as an inhibitor of CaCO3 crystal growth at a length of about 15 residues, but a length of about 35 residues was required for maximum inhibition of crystal nucleation. The polyaspartate molecules with terminal phosphoserine residues were extraordinarily active inhibitors of both calcium carbonate and phosphate formation. By use of scanning electron microscopy, the polyaspartate was seen to be bound to electrode surfaces after brief exposures, where it appeared to inhibit both anodic and cathodic reactions at doses used in practice for corrosion inhibition. Keywords: Corrosion inhibitors.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA210507
Entities
People
- Allison P. Wheeler
- Brenda J. Little
- C. S. Sikes
Organizations
- University of South Alabama