Ixora coccinea extract as an efficient eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor in acidic media: Experimental and theoretical approach

Abstract

The corrosion inhibition power of an eco-friendly green inhibitor Ixora coccinea extract (ICE) for mild steel in 1 M HCl and 0.5 M H2SO4 was analysed using physicochemical and electrochemical techniques. 1–5 v/v% ICE was prepared and added into the corrosive acidic media for different analyses. Weight loss measurements conducted for a period of 24hrs for mild steel immersion revealed 89.38% and 77.96% inhibition capacity of ICE in 1 M HCl and 0.5 M H2SO4 medium respectively. Electrochemical impedance parameters show that as concentration is increased, efficiency increases and double layer capacitance decreases. Potentiodynamic polarization techniques are also in good agreement with impedance studies and exhibit the mixed type inhibition character of ICE. Electrochemical noise spectrum also strongly supports the anti-corrosive property of ICE and the magnitude of noise signal decreases concerning the increase in ICE concentration. Ixorene, which is one of the major constituents of Ixora coccinea leaves was also studied for its corrosion inhibition nature by quantum mechanical calculations and was found to match with all other results. Adsorption studies of ICE are in accordance with Langmuir isotherm. Surface morphological studies confirm the formation of a protective barrier on mild steel surface in both media, i.e., 1 M HCl and 0.5 M H2SO4.