Oleaster Leaf Extract: A Potential Environmentally Friendly Inhibitor for Mild Steel

Abstract

In this research, the potential of Elaeagnus angustifolia tree leaf extract as a green corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in hydrochloric acid solution was examined. The stock concentration of the aqueous extract was determined to be 0.38% (w/v). Other experimental solutions were created by diluting four different extract concentrations in aggressive solution. Experimental measurements, including linear polarization (LPR), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and semi-logarithmic current potential curves by Tafel extrapolation method, were employed to validate the corrosion inhibition effects of the plant leaf extract at varying concentrations. Notably, oleaster leaf extract demonstrated a corrosion protection of over 80% for mild steel, even at low concentrations, attributed to its abundance in secondary metabolites such as polyphenols and flavonoids. The atomic force microscopy (AFM) surface maps provide robust evidence for the electrochemical measurement data.