Experimental and computational studies of Nicotiana tabacum leaves extract as green corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in acidic medium

In the present work corrosion inhibition of mild steel in 2 M H2SO4 solution by Nicotiana tabacum extract was studied by weight loss method. It has been found that the extract acts as an effective corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in Sulfuric acid medium. The inhibition process is attributed to the formation of an adsorbed film of inhibitor on the metal surface which protects the metal against corrosion. The inhibition efficiency (%IE) and surface coverage (θ) of N. tabacum extract increased with increase in inhibitor concentration but decreased with increasing the temperature. The adsorption of extract on the mild steel surface was found to obey Langmuir's adsorption isotherm. The free energy value (ΔGads) indicated that the adsorption of inhibitor molecules was typical of physisorption. The results obtained show that N. tabacum Extract could serve as an excellent eco-friendly green corrosion inhibitor. Quantum chemical parameters such as highest occupied molecular orbital energy (EHOMO), lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy (ELUMO), energy gap (ΔE), dipole moment (μ) and Mulliken charges were calculated. Quantum chemical calculations also supported experimental data and the adsorption of inhibitor molecules onto the metal surface.