Multidimensional insight into the corrosion inhibition of salbutamol drug molecule on mild steel in oilfield acidizing fluid: Experimental and computer aided modeling approach

•Expired salbutamol (SB) drug chemically adsorbed on a mild steel surface.•Theinteraction of Fe and SB (Fe-O) bonded and functionalized the metal surface.•Polymerization of SB resulted in the inhibitor’s film coverage as a protective layer.•Polarization test confirmed SB as a mixed-type inhibitor.•Artificial intelligence gave optimum system prediction.