Plants Polyphenols: An Alternative Source for Green Corrosion Inhibitor

Corrosion inhibitors are chemical compounds when added in a smallconcentration to the corrosive environment will significantly reduced the corrosion rate of metals or its alloys. The environmental toxicity of organic and synthetic corrosion inhibitors has prompted the search for green corrosion inhibitors as they are biodegradable, do not contain heavy metals or other toxic compounds. As in addition to being environmental friendly and ecologically acceptable, plant products are inexpensive, readily available and renewable. Although substantial research has been devoted to corrosion inhibition by plantextracts, reports on the detailed mechanisms of the inhibition process and identification of the active ingredient are still scarce. Most plant extracts constitute of oxygen and nitrogen containing compounds. Most of the oxygen-containing constituents of the extracts is a hydroxy aromatic compound such as polyphenolic compound. It is postulated that a number of OH groups around the molecule lure them to form strong links with hydrogen and form complexes with metals. The complexes caused blockages of micro anodes and/or microcathodes and hence retard the subsequent dissolution of the metal. Another suggestion was through and adsorption of polyphenols to the metals due to the presence of donoracceptor interactions between the π-electrons of aromatic ring and vacant d orbital of surface metal atoms. The present paper will highlight some of Malaysian plant extracts which are potential to be used as corrosion inhibitors for mild steel in acidic medi

FTIR Analysis on Phase Transformation of Rust In The Presence of Gambir

ABSTRACT The performance of gambir reacted with rust by means of FTIR was evaluated. The effects of gambir concentration, contact time and the addition of phosphoric acid in phase transformation of rust were studied. The FTIR spectra showed that the conversion of lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH) was the fastest, followed by magnetite (Fe3O4) and goethite (α-FeOOH) was the slowest. 10% gambir with 3 h contact time was found to be the optimum condition for the phase transformation. Addition of phosphoric acid gave a better performance in phase transformation of rust

Preliminary isolation and in vitro antiyeast activity of active fraction from crude extract of Gracilaria changii

Objective: To isolate the active fraction from crude extract of Gracilaria changii and to determine its in vitro antifungal activity. Materials and Methods: The active fraction was isolated from the crude extract of G. changii by various purification procedures such as column chromatography, thin layer chromatography, bioauthograph etc. The in vitro antifungal activity ( Candida albicans ) of the active fraction (1.00, 0.50, and 0.25 mg/ml) was studied by disc diffusion method and the effect of the active fraction on the morphology of yeast was done by scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies. Results: An active fraction with remarkable antifungal activity was separated from the crude extract. The active fraction was effective as a fungicide against C. albicans and showed a dose-dependent antifungal activity. A Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) study confirmed the fungicidal effect of G. changii active fraction on C. albicans, by changing the normal morphology of C. albicans. Conclusion: From G. changii crude extract, an active fraction with remarkable in vitro antifungal activity has been isolated

Non-academic service quality: comparative analysis of students and faculty as users

The research focus was a non-academic service quality assessment within higher education. In particular, non-academic service quality perceptions of faculty and students were evaluated using a service profit chain. This enabled a comparison which helped understanding of non-academic service quality orientation from a key users' perspective. Data were collected using a self-completion questionnaire that was posted on Survey Monkey. A four point Likert scale without a mid-point was used to record respondent perceptions. In total 296 usable questionnaires (192 from students and 104 from faculty) were collected, representing a response rate of 17 percent. Key results indicated that on the whole service users (both faculty and students) were satisfied with non-academic services and this had a positive impact on their loyalty. However, in the case of students, there was a disconnect between loyalty and its 'productive' propagation to the external environment