Waste cucumber peels for sustainable suppression of Mild steel corrosion in salty water

Abstract

Waste natural materials have become the preferred choice of scientists for corrosion inhibition of metals due to their cost effectiveness, economic availability, and high biodegradability. In the present report, the water extract of cucumber peel (CWE) is investigated for the protection of mild steel (MS) in salty (0.5 M NaCl) solutions. UV–visible (UVS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy have been used to characterize CWE. It is found based on results that CWE has biomolecules. Tafel polarization curves (TPC), open circuit potential (OCP) curves, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are used to investigate MS corrosion in 0.5 M NaCl with and without different amounts of CWE. The investigation suggests that the MS protection follows the CWE concentration. The maximum protection (44%) is acknowledged at 1000 mg/L of CWE. The surface morphology of MS is analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The MS surface is found to be damaged due to pure NaCl attack. In opposite, the NaCl attack on MS is restricted by CWE. Based on overall investigation, it is claimed that CWE can moderately suppress MS corrosion in salty water.