Chemical Engineering Communications, Vol.196, No.7, 788-800, 2009
CORROSION INHIBITION OF CARBON STEEL IN ACIDIC MEDIA BY BIFURCARIA BIFURCATA EXTRACT
The effect of extract of brown alga Bifurcaria bifurcata (Bb) on the corrosion of steel in 1M HCl solution was studied using weight loss, potentiodynamic, and polarization resistance measurements. Experimental data revealed that Bb extract acted as an inhibitor in the acid environment. The extract was a mixed-type inhibitor, predominating as an anodic inhibitor at higher concentration. It was found that the inhibition efficiency increased with an increase in Bb extract concentration. The corrosion inhibition of Bb extract on carbon steel in 1M HCl solution was also investigated by infrared and UV-visible spectrophotometry to obtain information on bonding mechanism between the metallic surface and the inhibitor. The process of inhibition is attributed to the adsorption of the extract molecules, the precipitation of Fe-chelates, and/or formation of complex at the electrode surface.