Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Journal of Bio- and Tribo-Corrosion (2018) 4:39 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40735-018-0161-0 Red Algae Halopitys Incurvus Extract as a Green Corrosion Inhibitor of Carbon Steel in Hydrochloric Acid T. Benabbouha 1  · M. Siniti 1  · H. El Attari 2  · K. Chefra 2  · F. Chibi 3  · R. Nmila 3  · H. Rchid 3 Received: 14 March 2018 / Revised: 30 May 2018 / Accepted: 3 June 2018 © Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2018 Abstract The inhibitor of corrosion efect of isopropanol extract of a red algae Halopitys incurvus (HIE) on carbon steel in HCl 1 M was studied by weight loss method, potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results revealed that this extract acted as an inhibitor in the acid medium. The inhibition efciency increases with the increas- ing concentration. The maximal value of inhibition efciency is 81.86% at 600 mg/l at 298 K. The polarization curves indicate that the HIE acts as a mixed-type inhibitor. The charge transfer resistance increases on the other hand the double-layer capac- ity decreases with the increasing concentration of HIE. The temperature infuence was studied in the range of 298–328 K, and the results obtained reveal the decrease of the inhibition efciency with temperature. Both kinetic and thermodynamic parameter of adsorption allows us to suggest physical adsorption of this inhibitor on the metal. The adsorption of HIE extract on the carbon steel follows Langmuir isotherm adsorption. Keywords Corrosion inhibitor · HalopItys incurvus · Electrochemical measurements · Adsorption · Langmuir 1 Introduction Environmental concerns require corrosion inhibitors to be non-toxic, environment friendly and acceptable. Organic compounds with functional groups containing nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen atoms are generally used as corrosion inhibitors. Most of these organic compounds are not only expensive but also harmful to the environment [1]. Current research is increasingly focusing on the use of inhibitors known as green inhibitors. The non-toxic and biodegradable nature of natural products has led to their use as ecologi- cal inhibitors. Plants and seaweeds extracts are viewed as an incredibly rich source of naturally synthesize chemical compounds that can be extracted by simple procedures with low cost [2–6]. Several researchers have proposed the use of eco-friendly materials in corrosive media. Abdel-Gaber et al. [7] exam- ined the inhibitory efect of the aqueous extract of Chamae- melum mixtum L., Cymbopogon proximus, Nigella sativa L. and Phaseolus vulgaris L. in 1 M H 2 SO 4 . The aqueous extract of green tea (Camellia sinensis) was tested as a corro- sion inhibitor by Alsabagh et al. [8], in 0.5M H 2 SO 4 and 1 M HCl acid media. Other plants were used as natural inhibitors such as Argania spinosa, Artemisia annua, Colebrookianum Walp, Gracilaria edulis, Lupinous albus L., Mentha spi- cata L., Prosopis julifora, potato peel, Pancratium foetidum Pom, Thymus vulgaris, Zenthoxylum alatum [9–19]. Marine algae are considered a natural source for cor- rosion inhibition. Bifurcaria bifurcata was tested on steel in 1 M HCl acid media by Abboud et al. [20]. In another study, the green algae Spirogyra wwere tested as a corrosion inhibitor on mild steel in 0.5 M HCl [21]. In the other study, a methanol extract of Caulerpa racemosa was tested on mild steel in 1 M HCl [22]; Kappaphycus alvarezii, Hydroclath- rus clathratus and micro-algae Spirulina platensis were tested on mild steel by Kamal et al. [23–25]; and Sargassum swartzii on mild steel in 1 N HCl [26]. * T. Benabbouha bentariq@gmail.com 1 Equipe de Thermodynamique, Surfaces et Catalyse, Faculté des Sciences, Université Chouaib Doukkali, 24 000 El-Jadida, Morocco 2 Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination et d’Analytique, Faculté des Sciences, Université Chouaib Doukkali, 24 000 El-Jadida, Morocco 3 Equipe de biotechnologie et valorisation des ressources végétales, Faculté des Sciences, Université Chouaib Doukkali, 24 000 El-Jadida, Morocco