Assessing the deterioration behaviour of mild steel in 2 M sulphuric acid using Bambusa glauscescens

The study investigated the deterioration of mild steel in 2 M sulphuric acid solution in the presence of Bambusa glauscescens extract using gasometric technique. Steel coupons measuring 4 cm by 1.5 cm were immersed in test solutions of uninhibited acid and also those containing extract concentrations of 60,100 and 140 cm3 at a temperature of 333K for 60 minutes. The volumes of hydrogen gas evolved from the reaction were documented and analyzed. The analysis showed that while extract concentration was increasing, H2 evolution and % I.E increased. There was also a corresponding reduction in corrosion rate as extract concentration increased. The decrease in corrosion rate was observed to follow in order of increasing extract concentration. Phytochemical-metal interaction mechanism was best described by Freundlich isotherm, with the 4 and 12 minutes curve becoming the best and worst contact time for the extract phytochemicals to suitably adsorb to metal surface for all concentrations used. An expression suitable for calculating corrosion rate values once concentration is known was also deduced. Furthermore, the microstructural studies revealed that increasing the extract concentration resulted in significant reduction in the dominant coarsening of the oxide of iron phase, while the pearlite and ferrite phases became finely disperse