Environmental Fate and Corrosion Inhibition Performance of Benzotriazole-Based Compounds: A Sustainability Perspective

Abstract

Benzotriazole-based compounds are among the most widely used corrosion inhibitors in industrial systems because of their remarkable efficiency in protecting copper, steel, and mixed-metal surfaces. However, increasing environmental concerns regarding persistence, toxicity, and bioaccumulation have raised questions about their long-term sustainability. This research paper examines the corrosion inhibition performance, environmental occurrence, degradation pathways, ecotoxicological effects, and sustainable alternatives of benzotriazole derivatives. The study integrates findings from recent environmental and electrochemical investigations and evaluates the balance between corrosion protection efficiency and ecological safety. Results indicate that benzotriazole compounds exhibit inhibition efficiencies exceeding 90% under optimized conditions, but their persistence in aquatic systems and resistance to biodegradation present environmental risks. Sustainable strategies including biodegradable inhibitors, nanostructured delivery systems, and advanced oxidation treatment technologies are discussed as future directions for green corrosion science.