Corrosion Protection of Mild Steel in Acid Solutions Using Red Cabbage Dye

Abstract

Red cabbage dye (RCD) and its inhibitory effect on the corrosion of mild steel in 1 N HCl and 1 N H₃PO₄ was investigated by weight loss and electrochemical methods. RCD was a good inhibitor for mild steel corrosion in acid solutions, affecting anodic and cathodic reactions. The inhibition efficiency increased with RCD concentrations, with more pronounced effects observed in HCl. The effect of temperature on corrosion inhibition was studied and kinetic activation parameters were calculated and discussed. The inhibition mechanism of RCD on the mild steel surface was related to the dye make up and behavior in acid solutions.

Keywords:

• Acids
• Adsorption
• Corrosion inhibition
• Mild steel
• Red cabbage dye
• Temperatures

Acknowledgments

The author is greatly thankful to Dr. Emeka E. Oguzie, professor at Federal University of Technology Owerri, Chemistry Department (Nigeria), and Dr. Ehteram A. Noor, associate professor of physical chemistry, Chemistry Department, King Abdulaziz University, for their support and assistance in getting research in its present form. Also, the author would like to thank Dr. Reem M. Alghanmi, assistant professor of analytical chemistry, Chemistry Department, King Abdulaziz University, for her technical help in absorption spectra experiments.