Portugaliae
Electrochimica Acta

The effect of synthesized 1,1'-propane-1,3-diylbis[3-(chloromethyl)-5-methyl-1H-pyrazole], dimethyl 1,1'-butane-1,4-diylbis(5-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate) and 1,1'-butane-1,4-diylbis[3-(chloromethyl)-5-methyl-1H-pyrazole] on corrosion of C38 steel in hydrochloric acid solution has been investigated in the temperature range from 298 K to 328 K by weight loss, potentiodynamic polarization method and modelled with an equivalent electric circuit. All the compounds exhibited more than 90% anticorrosion activity, the highest is 96 % by 1,1'-butane-1,4-diylbis[3-(chloromethyl)-5-methyl-1H-pyrazole], and it has been shown that the inhibition efficiencies increased with the concentration of the inhibitors, remaining almost constant in a wide temperature range. Potentiodynamic polarization studies suggested that it is a predominance cathodic type. Nyquist plots showed depressed semicircles with their centre below the real axis. The adsorption on the C38 steel surface followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The thermodynamic parameters for dissolution were investigated at different concentrations and temperature. The theoretical study by modelling the molecules of these inhibitors has been performed by considering the Density Functional Theory (DFT) using the Gaussian 03W suite of programs that can calculate the different quantum parameters such as EHOMO, ELUMO, ΔEHOMO, ELUMO, and µ dipolar moment, allowing us to confirm the results found by the gravimetric and electrochemical methods.

Gas chromatography mass spectrophotometer (GCMS) analysis of Ficus tricopoda gum indicated the presence of 4.75, 56.15, 32.10 and 7.00 % of camphene, sucrose, 2-methylene cholestan-3-ol and 7-hexadecenal, respectively. Several stretching and bending vibrations were observed in the Fourier transformed infra-red (FTIR) spectrum of the gum. Physicochemical examinations of the gum revealed that it is pale yellow in colour, mildly acidic, ionic and display characteristics of sour taste. The solubility of the gum in water was found to increase with increase in temperature. Knowledge of the chemical constitution of the gum (hence chemical structures of its constituents) was useful in predicting the corrosion inhibition potential of Ficus tricopoda (FT) gum. Consequently, the gum was found to be a good adsorption inhibitor for the corrosion of aluminum in solution of H2SO4. The adsorption of the gum (which, followed first order kinetic) was found to be endothermic at FT gum critical concentration of 0.3 g/L and exothermic at concentrations above the critical limit. The short coming of the Langmuir adsorption model in describing the existent of interaction between the molecules of the gum was complimented by the Frumkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich adsorption models. Calculated values of activation and free energies of activation indicated that the adsorption of Ficus tricopoda gum on Al surface exhibited both physical and chemical adsorption mechanism.

The inhibition efficiency [IE] of an aqueous extract of eclipta alba leaves in controlling corrosion of carbon steel in sea water [Thondi, Tamil Nadu, India] has been evaluated by weight loss method. The weight loss study reveals that the formulation consisting of 6 mL of EAE (Eclipta Alba extract ) and 25 ppm of Zn2+ has 92% inhibition efficiency in controlling corrosion of carbon steel in sea water. Polarization study reveals that EAE and Zn2+ system functions as a mixed type inhibitor. AC impedance spectra reveal that a protective film is formed on the metal surface. The nature of the metal surface has been analysed by FTIR spectra and AFM analysis.

It was evaluated the technical viability of mercury removal by electrodeposition from vegetal biomass samples obtained from mining zones which had 10±0.3 µgHg g-1. Each sample was treated by mixed acid to destroy the organic matter and liberate the metal in its inorganic form for the later removal of Hg by means of a cell of electrolysis with a rotary electrode of copper as cathode. Mercury concentration was determined by Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (CVAAS). Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to evaluate the simple and combined effects of three independent parameters (voltage, time and concentration) on the removal efficiency and optimizing the operating conditions. Analysis of variance showed a high coefficient of determination (r2 = 0.925) indicating that the second order regression model explains 92.5 % of the variability in results. The maximum efficiency of removal (91.2 %) predicted by the model was found for the initial concentration of 1.0 µg mL-1, 66.6 mins and 34.3 V. Model Validation was carried out under the following conditions: 1.0 µg mL-1, 60 mins and 30 V, which are close to the maximum efficiency with a removal percentage of 87.1 %.

The effect of some mono-,bis -and tris-azo dyes compounds on the dissolution of mild steel in 1.0 M HCl solution was studied using weight loss and potentiodynamic polarization measurements. The inhibition efficiency was found to increase with increasing concentration of the inhibitors and with decreasing temperature. The adsorption of different azo dyes on the mild steel surface obeys the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Polarization studies indicate that the compounds used are mixed type inhibitors. The thermodynamic functions of adsorption processes were calculated from weight loss at different temperatures data and were used to analyze the inhibitor mechanism. The surface morphology of the mild steel specimens was evaluated using SEM and EDAX analysis. To provide an evidence for the formation of the complex, UV-VIS spectra of solutions were investigated. From previous results (I.E.%, ∆Gads., SEM, EDAX and UV-VIS spectra) are likely to get into the possiblity of configure the complex on the mild steel surface.