Corrosion inhibition and adsorption properties of Azadirachta indica mature leaves extract as green inhibitor for mild steel in HNO3

Abstract

The corrosion inhibition and adsorption properties of Neem (Azadirachta indica – AZI) mature leaves extract as a green inhibitor of mild steel (MS) corrosion in nitric acid (HNO₃) solutions have been studied using a gravimetric technique for experiments conducted at 30 and 60°C. The results disclose that the different concentrations of the AZI extract inhibit MS corrosion and that inhibition efficiency of the extract varies with concentration and temperature. For extract concentrations studied and ranging from 9.09 to 28.57 mg/L, the maximum inhibition efficiency was 80.5 and 80.07% both at 28.57 mg/L AZI at 30 and 60°C, respectively, in 2.0 N HNO₃. The adsorption of the inhibitor on the MS surface was exothermic and consistent with the physical adsorption mechanism, best described by the Frumkin adsorption isotherm.