Abstract:

Due to ease of application, cost effectiveness and environmentally safe, in this study, the corrosion inhibition effect of aqueous extract of Eclipta alba in 1 N hydrochloric acid has been investigated by weight loss, potentiodynamic polarization and impedance methods and the extracts of Eclipta alba were found to be effective corrosion pickling inhibitor. The effect of immersion time and temperature revealed that the extracts of Eclipta alba with an optimum concentration of 8.0% v/v showed maximum inhibition efficiency of 99.6% at 3 h immersion time and 30°C. Arrhenius plots for mild steel immersed in 1 N HCl solution in the absence and presence of optimum concentration (8.0% in v/v) of Eclipta alba extract showed the effect of temperature. Polarization studies indicate that this plant extract acts as a mixed type inhibitor. The adsorption of
Eclipta alba follows Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The inhibition action may be due to the presence of the Wedelactone and also the alkaloid Ecliptine present in the leaves of Eclipta alba.

Key words: Eclipta alba, Corrosion inhibitor, Langmuir adsorption isotherm, Wedelactone and Ecliptine