INHIBITION OF MILD STEEL CORROSION IN H2SO4 USING EXUDATE GUM FROM PACHYLOBUS EDULIS AND SYNERGISTIC POTASSIUM HALIDE ADDITIVES

The corrosion inhibitive effects of Pachylobus edulis exudate gum for mild steel in 2 M H₂SO₄ and influence of potassium halide additives on the inhibition efficiency were investigated using hydrogen evolution and thermometric methods at 30°–60°C. Inhibition efficiency was determined by comparing the corrosion rates in the absence and presence of additives. The trend of inhibition efficiency with temperature was used to propose the mechanism of inhibition. It was found that the exudate gum acts as an inhibitor for acid-induced corrosion of mild steel. Inhibition efficiency (%I) of the exudate gum increased with an increase in concentration of the exudate gum and synergistically increased on addition of potassium halides but decreased with increase in temperature. Inhibitor adsorption characteristics were approximated by Temkin adsorption isotherm at all the concentrations and temperatures studied. The phenomenon of physical adsorption is proposed from the activation parameters obtained.