Comparative Evaluation of Anticorrosive Properties of Mahaleb Seed Extract on Carbon Steel in Two Acidic Solutions

Abstract

Aqueous extract solution of Mahaleb seed (ASMS) was prepared using a simple and safe method. ASMS was tested to examine its potential to act as a green corrosion inhibitor for preventing the dissolution of Carbon steel in highly concentrated corrosive 2 M H2SO4 and 2 M H3PO4 using an electrochemical polarization Tafel plot and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. ASMS provided a slight increase in the inhibition efficiency of H3PO4 (89%) compared with H2SO4 (86%). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and electronic scanning microscopy (SEM) were used to prove that adsorption of ASMS occurred on the metal surface. The thermodynamic adsorption and thermodynamic activation parameters were calculated at a range of concentrations and temperatures. The physisorption of ASMS followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm (R2 = 0.98). Finally, the role of ASMS as a protection mechanism was discussed.