Evaluating Eriobotrya Japonica Seeds as a Sustainable Corrosion Inhibitor for Carbon Steel in Diprotic Acid Medium: Insights from Electrochemical and Computational Analysis

Metal corrosion represents a major concern in various industries. While there is interest in developing new corrosion inhibitors, traditional ones often rely on toxic chemicals. As a result, there has been increasing attention on using natural substances, particularly botanical extracts, as safer alternatives for corrosion prevention. This study aims to investigate the corrosion inhibitory properties of Eriobotrya Japonica seeds on low-carbon steel in an H2SO4 medium using electrochemical techniques such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and Potentiodynamic Polarization (PDP), as well as theoretical assessments through Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Molecular Dynamic Simulations (MDs). The results revealed that the Eriobotrya Japonica Seeds extract (EJSE) exhibits significant corrosion inhibition, with an efficiency of up to 90.7% at a 1 g/L dosage of the extract. The inhibition mechanism follows a mixed-type pattern and adheres to the Langmuir adsorption model. The effect of temperature reveals physisorption behavior at the interface between the carbon steel and EJSE. Surface characterizations using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrographs of the low-carbon steel confirm the electrochemical findings and show the formation of a protective barrier that separates the steel's active surface from the corrosive medium. Quantum calculations support the empirical findings, concluding that the Eriobotrya Japonica Seeds extract has significant potential for corrosion inhibition in acidic solutions. Graphical Abstract: (Figure presented.) © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.