Plastic handling and manufacturing have recently increased dramatically owing to technological advancements and rising living standards. Consequently, the amount of plastic waste has significantly escalated, seriously pressuring the whole ecosystem. The impacts of waste accumulation in the environment frequently have detrimental effects on living organisms. Sustainable development goals (SDGs) propose balanced and feasible development of entire humanity, protecting natural resources and bringing a clean environment. Poly (ethylene terephthalate) - PET is a common plastic that can seriously threaten the environment if it is not handled appropriately. This review paper tends to show recent trends in the production and recycling of PET polymer on a global scale. The basis of PET chemistry together with possible applications was presented. A target period, from 2020-2024, was used to examine the quantity and main industrial suppliers around the world. Therefore, some sources state that in 2024, nearly 28 Mt of PET was produced and China was the main producer with a global share of 31%. Adequate management of the mentioned polymer is necessary for building an eco-friendly climate for future generations.

The corrosion behavior of X12CrMoWVNbN10‐1‐1 steel was investigated in 0.1 M NaCl solutions of different pH values (2.9, 6.5, and 10.3) using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), and potentiodynamic polarization (PDP). A pronounced pH dependence was observed, with the highest corrosion rate and lowest polarization resistance in acidic medium. Neutral and alkaline environments promoted passive film formation, with the alkaline solution providing superior protection against general and pitting corrosion. The enhanced passivation is attributed to the stabilizing role of hydroxide ions. Surface morphology by optical microscopy and SEM confirmed these trends, revealing severe degradation in acid and compact surfaces in neutral and alkaline media. Quantitative comparison with reference steels (P91 and 316 L) confirms an order‐of‐magnitude improvement in corrosion resistance, emphasizing the practical relevance of X12CrMoWVNbN10‐1‐1 for chloride‐containing environments. The results highlight its strong corrosion stability under variable‐pH exposure.

In this study, the inhibition efficiency (IE) of symmetrical bis(imino)pyridines (BIPs) used in corrosion protection for zinc and iron was investigated in 0.5 M NaCl (pH 3 and pH 7) and an acidic (1 M HCl) medium using linear polarization resistance (LPR) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Three derivatives, BIP-9, BIP-14 and BIP-16, exhibited the most relevant inhibition performance and acted as mixed-type corrosion inhibitors. In a neutral medium, BIP-16 exhibited the highest IE calculated from EIS, reaching 74.8% on iron and 61.2% on zinc. In 1 M HCl, the highest IE inhibition efficiency was obtained for BIP-9 on iron (93.7%), while BIP-16 and BIP-14 reached 78.8% and 75.1%, respectively. The IE increased with concentration up to an optimum value, while time- and temperature-dependent studies indicated partial loss of protection for individual inhibitor systems and improved long-term protection for the Ce(III) acetate + BIP-16 system, particularly on iron. The highest IE was observed at 25 °C, likely due to inhibitor desorption at higher temperatures. Ce(III) acetate also showed the highest IE for iron in 0.5 M NaCl at pH 3. Adsorption of inhibitors followed the Langmuir model, and calculated parameters indicated spontaneous adsorption with dominant physisorption. DFT calculations supported a medium-dependent inhibition mechanism. Environmental hazard assessment identified BIP-16 as the least hazardous compound with promising eco-friendly potential.

Electrochemical methods are widely used for evaluating corrosion behavior of structural steels in aggressive environments; however, their mutual consistency and practical applicability under varying conditions remain critical challenges. In this study, the corrosion behavior of X12CrMoWVNbN10-1-1 steel was investigated in 0.1 M NaCl solutions at different pH values (2.9, 6.5, and 10.3) using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), and potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), complemented by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results reveal a pronounced influence of pH on both corrosion rate and degradation mechanism. Acidic conditions promote active dissolution with high corrosion current density, while neutral and alkaline environments enable passive film formation, resulting in significantly improved corrosion resistance. A combined analysis of electrochemical techniques indicates good agreement between EIS and LSV in less aggressive conditions, whereas notable deviations were observed in acidic media due to accelerated corrosion kinetics and interfacial instability. PDP measurements further confirm enhanced resistance to pitting corrosion at higher pH values. Surface analysis supports the electrochemical findings, showing severe degradation in acidic solution and compact, stable surfaces in neutral and alkaline environments. The study demonstrates that the combined application of electrochemical and surface characterization methods provides a reliable framework for corrosion assessment and highlights the importance of method selection in engineering practice.

The extent of corrosion and the underlying causes of damage to the interior metal components of a one-year-old automobile from a known brand, owned by a rental car company in Serbia, were investigated. The vehicle?s interior, including upholstery and carpeting, showed no chemical spills or other damage. The solution obtained after rinsing a carpet sample from the car floor exhibited neutral pH. The corrosion behavior of the analyzed samples was determined using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), linear polarization resistance (LPR) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV, Tafel method). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses showed that corrosion products taken from corroded steel parts contain akaganeite ?-FeO(OH) and iron (II) chloride. FTIR analysis of the organic coating revealed that the applied epoxy layer was insufficiently crosslinked, making it permeable to moisture and chloride ions. Electrochemical corrosion measurements on steel with a similar chemical composition demonstrated an increased corrosion rate in a solution containing dissolved corrosion products compared to a reference solution. This accelerated corrosion was attributed to the acidity of akaganeite and iron (II) chloride, formed due to the vehicle?s exposure to a humid and chloride-rich environment.