Green Plant Extracts Corrosion Inhibition of Copper in Corrosive Environment - A Review

Abstract

This review explores the application of green plant extracts as corrosion inhibitors for copper in various corrosive environments, emphasizing their eco-friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable advantages over conventional inhibitors. Multiple experimental techniques, including potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), weight loss analysis, and surface characterization were employed across different studies to evaluate inhibition efficiency and adsorption behavior. Results consistently demonstrated that plant extracts significantly reduce corrosion rates, with efficiency generally increasing at higher concentrations but declining with elevated temperatures. Adsorption studies revealed that most inhibitors follow Langmuir, Freundlich, or Temkin isotherms, with both physisorption and chemisorption mechanisms observed depending on the extract and medium. Surface analyses confirmed smoother, less pitted copper surfaces in the presence of inhibitors, validating their protective action. Overall, the findings establish plant extracts as promising green alternatives for copper corrosion control, offering effective performance while aligning with sustainability and environmental protection goals.

Introduction

The text discusses the problem of corrosion in metallic materials and the potential use of green plant extracts as environmentally friendly and low-cost corrosion inhibitors. It highlights that corrosion is a major industrial issue affecting metals like steel, aluminum, and copper, leading to equipment failure, safety risks, financial losses, and significant economic costs worldwide. Traditional corrosion prevention methods such as coatings and inorganic inhibitors are often expensive and environmentally harmful, which has led to growing interest in plant-based “green” inhibitors due to their availability and eco-friendly nature.

The study focuses on evaluating green plant extracts as corrosion inhibitors, especially for copper alloys in different corrosive environments, and reviews common electrochemical and surface analysis techniques used in corrosion research.

Several key methods are explained:

• Potentiodynamic Polarization (PDP): Measures corrosion behavior by analyzing current response to changing potential, helping determine corrosion rate and mechanism.
• Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS): Uses AC signals to study resistance and interface behavior, providing insights into corrosion mechanisms and inhibitor effectiveness.
• Open Circuit Potential (OCP): Measures the natural electrochemical state of a metal to assess whether it is corroding or protected.
• Linear Polarization Resistance (LPR): Estimates corrosion rate using small voltage changes around OCP.
• Weight loss method: A simple technique that calculates corrosion rate based on mass loss of a metal sample over time.
• Surface characterization techniques: Such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), which visually examine corrosion damage at micro and nano scales.

Conclusion

The central objective of this review was to examine how plant extracts act as green corrosion inhibitors for copper in different corrosive media, using various experimental and computational methods. Across the literature, techniques such as potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, weight loss, and surface characterization consistently demonstrated that plant derived inhibitors reduce corrosion rates significantly. Studies on extracts from leaves, fruits, roots, and algae revealed that inhibition efficiency generally increases with concentration but decreases with rising temperature, highlighting thermal limitations. Adsorption studies showed that most inhibitors obey Langmuir, Freundlich, or Temkin isotherms, with adsorption being either physisorption or chemisorption depending on the extract and medium. Surface analyses confirmed smoother, less pitted copper surfaces when inhibitors were present, validating their protective action. Overall, the findings establish plant extracts as cost-effective, eco-friendly, and efficient alternatives to synthetic inhibitors for copper corrosion control in acidic and saline environments. The researchers recommended that industries should encourage the adoption of plant based extracts for copper corrosion control as sustainable, cost effective, and environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic inhibitors. They also recommended that extract dosages should be carefully balance with the operating temperature, since efficiency improves with concentration but declines at higher temperatures and broaden research to include diverse plant sources (leaves, fruits, roots, algae) to identify new, highly efficient inhibitors with unique functional groups.

References

[1] Aicha, B., Mustapha, H., Lahcen, B., Souad, E. & Hanane, Z. (2018). Study of copper corrosion inhibition by the mineralization of the red alga gellidium in nitric acid investigated by chemical and spectroscopic techniques. American Journal of Innovative Research and Applied Sciences, pp.158-168 [2] Badawi, A.K. & Fahim, I.S. (2021). A critical review on green corrosion inhibitors based on plant extracts: Advances and potential presence in the market. International Journal of Corrosion Scale Inhibition., 10(4), 1385–1406 [3] Bandeira, R. M., Lima, F. P., Nunes, M. S., Dos Santos, E. C., Dos Santos Júnior J. R., De Matos, J. M. E., Feitosa, C. M., Rai, M., Shandesh Bhattara, S. & Das Mulmi, D. (2025). The green plant-based corrosion inhibitors—a sustainable strategy for corrosion protection. Surface Science and Technology, 3(1). DOI: 10.1007/s44251-025-00084-7 [4] Bilgiç, S. (2023). Plant extracts as corrosion inhibitors against copper corrosion – An overview. International Journal Corrosion of Scale Inhibition, 12(3), 1224–1260. doi: 10.17675/2305-6894-2023-12-3-24 [5] Chaubey ,N., Singh, S. V.K. & Quraishi, M. A. (2015). Effect of some peel extracts on the corrosion behavior of aluminum alloy in alkaline medium. International Journal of Industrial Chemistry, 6, pp. 317–328: DOI 10.1007/s40090-015-0054-8 [6] El-Enin, S. A. A. & Amin, A. (2015). Review of corrosion inhibitors for industrial applications. International Journal of Engineering Research and Reviews, 3(2), 127-145. [7] Emmanuel, J., Ngasoh, F., Bello, A., Anye, V. & Onwualu, A. (2024). Study of Some Plant Extracts to Assess their Synergistic Corrosion Inhibition Performance-A Comparative Analysis. Research Square, 1-25. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4498767/v1 [8] Fayomi, O.S.I. (2025). Investigation of plantain extract for enhancing copper durability in acid-based corrosive environments. Arid Zone Journal Of Engineering, Technology & Environment, 21(2):589-600. https://doi.org/10.63958/AZOJETE/2025/21/02/023 [9] Fouda, A.S., Abdallah, Y.M., Elawady G.Y. & Ahmed, R.M. (2014). Zygophllum coccineum L. Extract as green corrosion inhibitor for copper in 1 M HNO3 Solutions. International Journal of Advanced Research 2(11). [10] Fouda, A.S., Abdallah, Y.M., Elawady G.Y. & Ahmed, R.M. (2015). Electrochemical study on the effectively of Hyoscyamus Muticus Extract as a green inhibitor for corrosion of copper in 1 MHNO3. Journal of Materials and Environmental Science, 5 (6)1519-153 [11] Fouda, A.S., Badr, S.E., Ahmed, R.M. & El-Hossiany, A. (2021). Chemical and electrochemical corrosion of a copper alloy in aqueous solutions by using Morus Alba extract as an eco-friendly inhibitor. Int. J. Corros. Scale Inhib., 10(3), 1011–1029. doi: 10.17675/2305-6894-2021-10-3-12 [12] Hart, K. G., Orubite- Okorosaye.K., James, A. O. (2016). Corrosion Inhibition of Copper in Seawater by Xanthosoma Spp Leaf Extract (XLE). International Journal of Advanced Research in Chemical Science (IJARCS), http://dx.doi.org/10.20431/2349-0403.0312005 [13] Hefnaw, A. M., & Abdellah Ali, S.F , (2017). Arghel extract: a promising green corrosion inhibitor. Protection of Metals and Physical Chemistry of Surfaces, 53(6), 1120–1124. DOI: 10.1134/S2070205117060107 [14] Himeur, T., Ferkous, H., Rouibah, K., Abdennouri, A. & Bousba, D. (2026). Plant Extracts and Essential Oils as Green Corrosion Inhibitors for Steel in Acidic Media: A Review. Chemistry, Environmental Science, Materials Science. DOI:10.1016/j.molstruc.2026.146143 [15] Holla, B. R., Mahesh, R., Manjunath, H.R. & & Anjanapura, R. V.(2024). Plant extracts as green corrosion inhibitors for different kinds of steel: A review. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33748 [16] Kosti?, N., Šarko?evi?, Z., ?amagi?, I., Lazarevi?, D.& Dedi?, J. (2022). Corrosion costs for oil and gas industry. XXIII YuCorr, May 16-19, 2022, Div?ibare, Serbia. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/368768739_Corrosion_costs_for_oil_and_gas_industry on the 21st of April, 2026 [17] Mazumder, M. J. (2020). Global Impact of Corrosion: Occurrence, Cost and Mitigation. Global Journal of Engineering Sciences, 5(4), 1-5. DOI: 10.33552/GJES.2020.05.000618 [18] Miralrio, A. & Vázquez, A. E. (2020). Plant extracts as green corrosion inhibitors for different metal surfaces and corrosive media: A Review. Processes 8, 942. doi:10.3390/pr8080942 [19] Morais, W. R. S., Silva, J. S., Queiroz, N.M. P., Zanta, C. L.P., Adriana Santos Ribeiro, A. S. & Tonholo, J. (2023). Green Corrosion Inhibitors Based on Plant Extracts for Metals and Alloys in Corrosive Environment: A Technological and Scientific Prospection. Applied Science 13(13). https://doi.org/10.3390/app13137482 [20] Mounir, F., El Issami, S., Bazzi, Chihab, E., A., Jbara, O. & Bazzi, L. (2015). Argan hulls extract as an efficient green corrosion inhibitor for copper in phosphoric acidic. International Journal of Current Research7(01), 11419-11425 [21] Paterson, P. (2023). Principles and Costs of Corrosion. Institute of corrosion, corrosion awareness day 2023. Retrieved from https://www.icorr.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023-08-22-ICorr-Aberdeen-2023-CAD-1-Principles-and-Costs-of-Corrosion.pdf on the 21st of April, 2026. [22] Rathi, P., Trikha, S. & Kumar, S . (2027). Plant extracts as green corrosion inhibitors in various corrosive media- a review. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 6(4), 482-514. DOI: 10.20959/wjpps20174-8903 [23] Scendo, V. & Uznanska, J. (2011). The Effect of Ionic Liquids on the Corrosion Inhibition of Copper in Acidic Chloride Solutions. Hindawi Publishing Corporation International Journal of Corrosion, pp. 1-13. doi:10.1155/2011/718626 [24] Sheydaei, M. (2024). The Use ofPlant Extracts as Green Corrosion Inhibitors:Review. Surfaces 7(2):380-403, DOI: 10.3390/surfaces7020024 [25] Tari-Ukuta, P. M., Stanley, H. O. & Okerentugba, P. O. (2024). Ocimum gratissimum extracts as green inhibitors for the management of microbiologically induced corrosion on buried metals. GSC Advanced Research and Reviews, 2024, 21(02), 469–477. https://doi.org/10.30574/gscarr.2024.21.2.0436 [26] Thivagaran, R., Salim, N., Abubakar,N. H. (2023). Ethanolic Mangifera Indica Leaves Extract as Green Corrosion Inhibitor. Journal of Advanced Research in Applied Sciences and Engineering Technology 29(3), 228-234.https://doi.org/10.37934/araset.29.3.228234 [27] Udom, G. I., Cookey, G. A. & Abia, A. A. (2018). Corrosion Inhibition and adsorption characteristics of myrianthus arboreus leaves extract on copper in sulphuric acid solution. Chemical Science International Journal, 23(3): 1-13: DOI: 10.9734/CSJI/2018/41304 [28] Ugi, B.U. (2021). Corrosion inhibition of cu-zn-fe alloy in hydrochloric acid medium by crude ethanol extracts from roots-leaves synergy of solanum melongena. Earthline Journal of Chemical Sciences. 5(1), pp. 105-118: https://doi.org/10.34198/ejcs.5121.105118 [29] Vashi, R. T. Champaneri, V. A. & Prajapati, N. I. (2021). Green corrosion inhibitors for copper in HCl and H2SO4 Solution - A Review. International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET), 9(6), 353-361. https://doi.org/10.22214/ijraset.2021.34866 [30] Žbulj, K., Bili?, G., Hrn?evi?, L. & Simon, K. (2014). The Potential of Using Plant Extracts as Green Corrosion Inhibitorsin the Petroleum Industry. The Mining-Geology-Petroleum Engineering Bulletin. DOI: 10.17794/rgn.2021.5.12

Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Abraham Yerinmearede Erebugha, Keneotubo Ekuromokumo Okubo, Alfred O. Oyibo. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.