Electrochemical investigation on the acid corrosion control of mild steel using biopolymer as an inhibitor

The present work highlights the results of the application of a green inhibitor for material conservation. The anticorrosive performance of the pectin bio-polymer was established for the corrosion control of mild steel in a 1 M phosphoric acid medium. Electrochemical measurements such as potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies were adopted for the corrosion inhibition studies. The studies were carried out by varying the concentrations of pectin in the temperature range from 303 K to 318 K. Conditions were optimized to get maximum inhibition efficiency. The surface morphology study was done by scanning electron microscope (SEM), and elemental mapping was done using energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) studies to confirm the adsorption and interaction of the inhibitor with the material. Studies showed an increase in the inhibition efficiency with an increase in the concentration of pectin and also in the temperature. Maximum inhibition efficiency of 70% was achieved by the addition of 800 ppm of inhibitor. Pectin acted as a mixed type inhibitor by bringing down both cathodic and anodic reactions. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters revealed chemical adsorption of pectin onto the mild steel surface. A suitable mechanism was proposed for the adsorption of pectin which was reaffirmed by the surface morphology studies. Pectin emerged as a potential eco-friendly green inhibitor for the corrosion control of mild steel, with economic benefits.