THE INHIBITORY ACTION OF BITTER LEAF EXTRACTS ON MILD STEEL CORROSION IN AN ACIDIC MEDIUM

Abstract

With the use of the weight loss technique and the response surface approach (RSM),the main process parameters of the leaf extract of bitter leaf on mild steel corrosion in an acidic medium were examined. An atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) was used to quantify the elemental compositions of metals. In order to verify that the bitter leaf extract contained organic components such alkaloids, tannins, terpenes, glycosides, saponins, and flavonoids that helped the extract function as an effective inhibitor, phytochemical analysis was carried out. An acidic medium's corrosion rate was studied in relation to many parameters, including inhibitor concentration, time, and temperature influence. The iron content of mild steel is determined by the presence of phytochemical components and functional groups in the extract, which give it an effective inhibitory effect. Studies from the experimental design of bitter leaf showed that the optimal inhibition efficiency was 83.9 percent at 47.3⁰C, inhibitor concentration of 12.10 mg/mol, and time of 7.50s. These findings indicate that bitter leaf extract is a potent inhibitor.