Plant wastes as alternative sources of sustainable and green corrosion inhibitors in different environments

Abstract

Current successes recorded in the use of plant leaves as corrosion inhibitors have been globally admitted as one of the best options. Little attention is paid to the future implication or risks concerning food insecurity, economic challenges and competition in various sectors that employ plants as their raw materials. This study reviewed the potential of plant wastes (such as peels, rinds and other components) as alternative sources of sustainable corrosion inhibitors. The review reveals that through the considerations of experimental and quantum chemical data as well as their chemical constituents, most plant wastes have excellent corrosion inhibition capacity. Those tested and confirmed as good corrosion inhibitors have also been reviewed. Computational chemistry has been implemented to demonstrate how some challenges confronting the understanding of their inhibition mechanism can be resolved.

Inhibition Effect of Triphenylmethane Dyes for the Corrosion of Carbon Steel in CO2-Saturated NaCl Corrosion Medium

“…Typically, a higher EHOMO value indicates more reactive electrons within the bonding orbitals and an enhanced capability of the corrosion inhibitor molecules to donate electron pairs. Conversely, a smaller ELUMO value signifies a reduction in the system’s energy following the transfer of electron pairs to the bonding orbitals, facilitating the acceptance of electrons by the corrosion inhibitor [ 50 ]. The highest EHOMO (−5.671 eV) of CV surpasses those of MG and FB, which are −5.752 eV and −5.805 eV, respectively, signifying a superior electron-donating characteristic for CV.…”