Assessment of Eichhornia crassipes as a Green Corrosion Inhibitor for AISI 1005 Steel in Acidic Environments

Green corrosion inhibitors have shown considerable promise as a viable alternative to synthetic inhibitors for preventing corrosion in various applications. In this study, the aquatic plant Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth), native to the Pantanal region, was evaluated for its potential as a green corrosion inhibitor for AISI 1005 steel in an electrolyte containing 0.01 mol L–1 HCl. The plant extraction was conducted using both maceration and ultrasound with the electrolyte. The study employed open circuit potential (OCP), potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) using electrochemical techniques, and weight loss (WL) tests were performed. The results indicated a reduction in the rate of corrosive reactions on the steel surface, particularly in cathodic reactions, with corrosion inhibition efficiency reaching nearly 90 %.