Experimental, DFT and MD Assessments of Bark Extract of Tamarix aphylla as Corrosion Inhibitor for Carbon Steel Used in Desalination Plants

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the extract of barks of Tamarix aphylla as a corrosion inhibitor. The methodology briefly includes plant sample collection, extraction of the corrosion inhibitor, gravimetric analysis, plotting potentiodynamic polarization plots, electrochemical impedance spectroscopic measurements, optimization of conditions, and preparation of the inhibitor products. The results show that the values of inhibition efficiency (IE%) increased as the concentrations of the inhibitor increased, with a maximum achievable inhibition efficiency of 85.0%. Potentiodynamic polarization (PP) tests revealed that the extract acts as a dual-type inhibitor. The results obtained from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements indicate an increase in polarisation resistance, confirming the inhibitive capacity of the tested inhibitor. The adsorption of the inhibitor on the steel surface follows the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model and involves competitive physio-sorption and chemisorption mechanisms. The EIS technique was utilized to investigate the effect of temperature on corrosion inhibition within the 298–328 K temperature range. Results confirm that the inhibition efficiency (IE%) of the inhibitor decreased slightly as the temperature increased. Lastly, the thermodynamic parameters for the inhibitor were calculated.