Ostrich fat waste: A unique green shield against steel corrosion

The implications of ostrich fat waste as a corrosion inhibitor extend beyond the laboratory, allowing industries, such as oil and gas, where steel pipelines face constant acid exposure, to benefit significantly

- ABDULAZIZ KHATTAK

IN a world grappling with environmental challenges, the quest for sustainable industrial solutions has never been more urgent. Enter an unlikely hero: Ostrich fat waste.

Once discarded as a byproduct of the meat and leather industries, this animal-derived extract is now emerging as a potent, eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor for steel in acidic environments, such as oil and gas.

Recent research highlights its remarkable ability to protect C38 steel in hydrochloric acid, offering a green alternative to toxic chemical inhibitors.

By transforming waste into a valuable resource, ostrich fat extracts align with global sustainability goals, promising a cleaner future for industries reliant on steel.

A NOVEL APPROACH TO CORROSION PROTECTION

Corrosion, the gradual degradation of metals, costs industries billions annually, with acidic environments posing a particular threat to steel infrastructure.

Traditional corrosion inhibitors, often synthetic chemicals, are effective but environmentally harmful, prompting a shift towards green corrosion inhibitors (GCIs).

Plant-based extracts have dominated this space, but animal-derived alternatives are gaining traction.

Ostrich fat waste, rich in fatty acids and bioactive compounds, is proving to be a game-changer.

A 2024 study published in the Colloids and Surfaces: A Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects journal demonstrates that ostrich oil, extracted from fat waste, achieves up to 94 per cent corrosion inhibition efficiency for C38 steel in 1 M hydrochloric acid at a concentration of 0.5 g/L.