Investigation of pumpkin pod extract as corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in HCl Solution

Abstract

This work focused on the use of natural, and eco-friendly waste material as an inhibitor for inhibiting carbon steel corrosion. In order to obtain minimum rate of corrosion on carbon steel, optimization of the process factors that affect carbon steel corrosion was undertaken using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Three parameters were fluctuated viz; temperature, pumpkin pod extract concentration and time of exposure and their corresponding effects on rate of corrosion of carbon steel were ascertained. The data obtained was fitted to a model that is quadratic which was subsequently validated. The predicted lowest rate of corrosion by the model is 2.5427mm/yr with optimal conditions of 178.07ppm of pumpkin extract concentration, exposure time of 2.26hrs, and 35.28oC of temperature. The conditions were validated in three replicates and corrosion rate of 2.75mm/yr was obtained. Keywords: corrosion, optimization, pumpkin pod, response surface methodology.