Effect of Aloe Vera Extract as Green Corrosion Inhibitor on Medium Carbon Steel in Sulphuric Acid Environment

Abstract

Medium carbon steel is widely consumed by various industrial sectors due to its attractive set of mechanical properties and low cost, but it experiences deterioration when exposed to a corrosive environment. In the present study, Aloe Vera plant extract was studied as a green corrosion inhibitor for medium carbon steel in an acidic medium. The presence of inhibitive compounds in Aloe Vera plant extract was determined by FTIR. Moreover, the inhibition efficiency was determined through gravimetric analysis and electrochemical analysis. The results show that the Aloe Vera plant extract provided inhibition efficiency of more than 90% in both gravimetric and electrochemical analyses. Furthermore, the shift in polarization curves depicts that this plant extract is a mixed type inhibitor acting as an anodic and cathodic inhibitor. Overall, Aloe Vera plant extract provides excellent corrosion inhibition to medium carbon steel in the H2SO4 environment and can be used as a green corrosion inhibitor for mitigating internal corrosion of pipelines and storage tanks.