Biofeedstock-induced metal corrosion: Reactions between carbon steel and triacylglycerol-based solutions at elevated temperature

Triacylglycerol-based feedstocks are crucial for renewable fuel production, but their increased reactivity results in accelerated corrosion of process equipment. We performed systematic corrosion experiments of carbon steel at 274 °C in the presence of a 10 wt. % soybean oil in white oil solution throughout the early stages of corrosion (0–30 h). The corrosion rate peaked at 10 h, followed by substantial iron oxide growth on the surface. The maximum corrosion rate was preceded by an increase in fatty acid concentration and succeeded by an increase in iron and water concentration in solution. Our findings provide insight into the fundamental mechanisms of biofeedstocks-induced corrosion.