Three amide derivatives of 1-aminoanthraquinones (AAQs) synthesized from long chain fatty acids were evaluated for corrosion inhibition efficiency against steel (API 5L-X60) in white petrol-water mixtures at room temperature by weight loss and electrochemical studies. Potentiodynamic polarization studies carried out at room temperature on steel (API 5L-X60) in white petrol with water containing 120 ppm of chloride and 50 ppm of the 1-aminoanthraquinone derivatives showed that all the investigated compounds are of anodic type and good corrosion inhibitors in white petrol-water mixtures. Oleic acid derivative of 1-aminoanthraquinone was found to be the best corrosion inhibitor. It exhibited 86% inhibition efficiency against the corrosion of API 5L-X60 steel. The surface analysis by AFM indicated the adsorption of inhibitors on the metal surface. Besides, all the synthesized 1-aminoanthraquinone derivatives exhibited antimicrobial efficacy against Serratia marcescens ACE2 and Bacillus cereus ACE4. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.