Inhibition of Carbon Steel Corrosion in 0.5 N Sulphuric Acid Using Ziziphus Spina-Christi Leaf Extract
Abstract
In the present work, we report the performance of an aqueous extract obtained from leaves of the Ziziphus spina-christi as a green and sustainable corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in a 0.5 N sulphuric acid solution. The experimental strategy was based on the influence of the corrosion rate due to extract concentration (v/v %) (0.4 % to 20 %) and temperature (20 to 60 °C), which was evaluated from the mass loss method. An increase in the concentration of the extract proportionally enhanced the inhibition efficiency up to 91.7% at 20% concentration. From kinetic and thermodynamic standpoints, the extract resulted in raised values of activation energy (Eₐ) and activation enthalpy (ΔHₐ), as well as the activation Gibbs free energy (ΔGₐ), implying an energy barrier increases for the corrosion process and the formation of a higher energy and less favorable transition state. In addition to this, negative values of the activation entropy suggested the production of a very ordered, electrically insulating, and protective layer of adsorbed extract molecules, which isolates the metal surface from the corrosive environment.
Full text article
References
[1] B. Fazal, T. Becker, B. Kinsella, and K. Lepkova, "A review of plant extracts as green corrosion inhibitors for CO2 corrosion of carbon steel," npj Materials Degradation, vol. 6, p. 5, 01/25 2022, doi: 10.1038/s41529-021-00201-5.
[2] Q. Wang et al., "Protein-derived carbon dots as green corrosion inhibitors for carbon steel in sulfuric acid solution," Diamond and Related Materials, vol. 145, p. 111135, 04/01 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.diamond.2024.111135.
[3] A. Fawzy, M. Abdallah, I. Zaafarany, S. Ahmed, and I. Althagafi, "Thermodynamic, kinetic and mechanistic approach to the corrosion inhibition of carbon steel by new synthesized amino acids-based surfactants as green inhibitors in neutral and alkaline aqueous media," Journal of Molecular Liquids, vol. 265, pp. 276-291, 08/01 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.molliq.2018.05.140.
[4] M. Avhad, P. Desai, C. Pawar, and A. More, "Corrosion inhibitors for carbon steel: A review," Vietnam Journal of Chemistry, vol. 61, pp. 15-42, 12/23 2022, doi: 10.1002/vjch.202200111.
[5] B. R. Holla, R. Mahesh, H. R. Manjunath, and V. R. Anjanapura, "Plant extracts as green corrosion inhibitors for different kinds of steel: A review," Heliyon, vol. 10, no. 14, p. e33748, 2024/07/30/ 2024, doi: doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33748.
[6] M. Abdallah, H. Altass, B. Al-jahdaly, and A. Fouda, "Inhibition properties and adsorption behavior of 5-arylazothiazole derivatives on 1018 carbon steel in 0.5M H2SO4 solution," Journal of Molecular Liquids, vol. 216, pp. 590-597, 04/01 2016, doi: 10.1016/j.molliq.2016.01.077.
[7] A. AL-abbasi, I., Z., Shanaa, Kassim, A., Aga, Suliman, M. , "The Synergistic Effects of Iodide Ions on the Corrosion Inhibition of Mild Steel in H2SO4 Using phenyl Benzoylthiourea," Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 320-326, 2018.
[8] S. Khalifa, A., AL-abbasi, M.,Suliman, "Adsorption and Corrosion Inhibition of Mild Steel in Acidic Media by Expired Pharmaceutical Drug," Journal of Pure & Applied Sciences, vol. 17, pp. 1-6, 2018.
[9] Z. Abu alqassim, O. Almahdi, O. Almassri, and A. Al-abbasi, "Corrosion Inhibition characteristics of Reinforced Steel in H2SO4 by benzoyl Thiourea," Journal of Pure & Applied Sciences, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 137-141, 11/01 2021, doi: 10.51984/jopas.v20i2.1591.
[10] A. Al-Abbasi and H. Sida, "Colorimetric evaluation of the corrosion rate of steel in acidic media in the presence of pentoxifylline drug and KI," Int. J. Corros. Scale Inhib., vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 995-1011, 2024, doi: 10.17675/2305-6894-2024-13-2-19.
[11] A. A. Al-Abbassi, S. F. Kayed, and M. B. Kassim, "Spectral, theoretical, physicochemical and corrosion inhibition studies of ortho-, meta- and para-hydroxyphenyl-benzoylthiourea ligands," Inorganic Chemistry Communications, vol. 156, p. 111155, 2023/10/01/ 2023, doi: doi.org/10.1016/j.inoche.2023.111155.
[12] S. Lahmady et al., "Investigation of Ziziphus Lotus Leaves Extract Corrosion Inhibitory Impact on Carbon Steel in a Molar Hydrochloric Acid Solution," Portugaliae Electrochimica Acta, vol. 41, pp. 135-149, 01/01 2023.
[13] A. Al-abbasi, Z. A. Alqasim, F. Rahuma, and H. Mona, "Corrosion Inhibition of Reinforced Steel in 3.5% Sodium Chloride using Expired Pentoxifylline Drug: A Mass Loss Study," International Science and Technology Journal, vol. 2, pp. 1-21, 2024, doi: doi.org/10.62341/ISTJ.
[14] A. Al-abbasi, R. Zirik, H. Ahwidi, and F. Massoud, "Corrosion Mitigation of Medium Carbon Steel in HCl Solution Using Ficus Carica Leaf Extract: Mass Loss Technique," Journal of Pure & Applied Sciences vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 105-109, 2025, doi: DOI: 10.51984/jopas.v24i3.4199.
[15] A. Al-abbasi, E. Matrood, A. Dnkm, A. Sallh, R. Izrik, and M. Suliman, "Study of the Behavior of Sodium Diclofenac Expired Drug as an Corrosion Inhibitor of Iron in Sulfuric Acid Using UV-VIS Spectrophotometry," Int. J. Sci. Res. Sci. Eng. Technol., vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 233-242, 2020.
[16] A. Al-abbasi, and Shana, I. , "Corrosion Inhibition of Mild Steel in Acidic Media by Expired Carbimazole Drug," Journal of Pure & Applied Sciences, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 176–180, 2021, doi: doi.org/10.51984/jopas.v20i2.1646.
[17] A. Adediran, S. Talabi, G. Nwokocha, and A. Ameh, "Inhibitory action of Vernonia amygdalina extract (VAE) on the corrosion of carbon steel in acidic medium," Journal of Electrochemical Science and Engineering, vol. 7, p. 145, 08/15 2017, doi: 10.5599/jese.353.
[18] Al-abbasi A., Belkher N., Ahmida K., and Z. M., "Potentiometric Studies on Binary and Ternary Complexes of Ni(II) and Cu(II) Ions with L-Valine and Paracetamol," Journal of the Turkish Chemical Society Section A: Chemistry, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 325-338, 2023, doi: doi.org/10.18596/jotcsa.1140039.
[19] A. Alabbsi, "Theoretical Study of the Electronic Structure of Bupivacaine and Lidocaine as Local Anesthetic Agents," Scientific Journal for Faculty of Science-Sirte University, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 1-8, 04/17 2025, doi: 10.37375/sjfssu.v5i1.2573.
[20] P. Agrawal, T. Singh, D. Pathak, and H. Chopra, "An updated review of Ziziphus jujube: Major focus on its phytochemicals and pharmacological properties," Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine, vol. 8, p. 100297, 2023/09/01/ 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prmcm.2023.100297.
[21] J. Asgarpanah and E. Haghighat, "Phytochemistry and pharmacologic properties of Ziziphus spina christi (L.) Willd," African journal of pharmacy and pharmacology, vol. 6, 08/22 2012, doi: 10.5897/AJPP12.509.
[22] A. Hussein, "Ziziphus spina-christi: Analysis of Bioactivities and Chemical Composition," 2019, pp. 175-197.
[23] Z. Ashoor, D. Ali, and H. Al-Sawaad, "Ziziphus Spina Christi Leaves Methanol Extract Evaluation as Antifungal, Antibacterial, Antioxidant and Green Inhibitor for Carbon Steel Alloy Corrosion in Hydrochloric Acid," Portugaliae Electrochimica Acta, vol. 41, pp. 167-184, 04/01 2023, doi: 10.4152/pea.2023410205.
[24] Z. Shahryari and K. Gheisari, "Corrosion inhibition properties of Ziziphus spina-christi leaves extract and zinc cations on mild steel in sodium chloride solution," Materials Chemistry and Physics, vol. 299, p. 127474, 02/01 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2023.127474.
[25] A. Mauro et al., "Ziziphus joazeiro Stem Bark Extract as a Green Corrosion Inhibitor for Mild Steel in Acid Medium," Processes, vol. 9, 07/29 2021, doi: 10.3390/pr9081323.
[26] N. Rajamohan, F. S. Zahir Said Al Shibli, M. Rajasimman, and Y. Vasseghian, "Eco-friendly biomass from Ziziphus spina-christi for protection of carbon steel in acidic conditions – Parameter effects and corrosion mechanism studies," Chemosphere, vol. 291, p. 132756, 2022/03/01/ 2022, doi: doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132756.
[27] H. A. Matter, T. M. Ayad, and A. A.I. Alkatly, "Grape Leaves and Ziziphus Spina-Christi, Extracts as a Green Inhibitors Corrosion for The Carbon Steel and Oil Pipelines in 1M H2SO4," Almanara Scientific Journal, no. 6, pp. 124-145, 05/04 2024, doi: 10.37376/asj.vi6.5140.
[28] C. P. Mungwari, B. A. Obadele, and C. K. King'ondu, "Phytochemicals as green and sustainable corrosion inhibitors for mild steel and aluminium: Review," Results in Surfaces and Interfaces, vol. 18, p. 100374, 2025/01/01/ 2025, doi: doi.org/10.1016/j.rsurfi.2024.100374.
[29] O. A. Akinbulumo, O. J. Odejobi, and E. L. Odekanle, "Thermodynamics and adsorption study of the corrosion inhibition of mild steel by Euphorbia heterophylla L. extract in 1.5 M HCl," Results in Materials, vol. 5, p. 100074, 2020/03/01/ 2020, doi: doi.org/10.1016/j.rinma.2020.100074.
[30] A. Ei-Awady, B. Abd-Ei-Nabey, and S. Aziz, "Kinetic-Thermodynamic and Adsorption Isotherms Analyses for the Inhibition of the Acid Corrosion of Steel by Cyclic and Open-Chain Amines," Journal of The Electrochemical Society, vol. 139, p. 2149, 08/01 1992.
[31] B. A. Abd El-Nabey, E. Khamis, G. E. Thompson, and J. L. Dawson, "Effect of temperature on the inhibition of the acid corrosion of steel by benzaldehyde thiosemicarbazone: Impedance measurements," Surface and Coatings Technology, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 83-91, 1986/05/01/ 1986, doi: doi.org/10.1016/0257-8972(86)90119-2.
[32] B. Rani and B. Basu, "Green Inhibitors for Corrosion Protection of Metals and Alloys: An Overview," International Journal of Corrosion, vol. 2012, 01/01 2012, doi: 10.1155/2012/380217.
[33] A. Turkustani, S. Arab, and A.-R. Areej, "Corrosion and Corrosion Inhibition of Mild Steel in H2SO4 Solutions by Zizyphus Spina-Christi as Green Inhibitor," International Journal of Chemistry, vol. 2, pp. 54-54, 07/20 2010, doi: 10.5539/ijc.v2n2p54.
[34] S. Shivakumar and K. Mohana, "Ziziphus mauritiana leaves extracts as corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in H2SO4 and HCl solutions," European Journal of Chemistry, vol. 3, pp. 426-432, 12/31 2012, doi: 10.5155/eurjchem.3.4.426-432.671.
[35] M. G. Fontana, Corrosion engineering. United States: McGraw Hill Book Co.,New York, NY (in English), 1986, p. Medium: X; Size: Pages: 556.
Authors
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Pure & Applied Sciences

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
In a brief statement, the rights relate to the publication and distribution of research published in the journal of the University of Sebha where authors who have published their articles in the journal of the university of Sebha should how they can use or distribute their articles. They reserve all their rights to the published works, such as (but not limited to) the following rights:
- Copyright and other property rights related to the article, such as patent rights.
- Research published in the journal of the University of Sebha and used in its future works, including lectures and books, the right to reproduce articles for their own purposes, and the right to self-archive their articles.
- The right to enter a separate article, or for a non-exclusive distribution of their article with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in the journal of Sebha University.
Privacy Statement The names and e-mail addresses entered on the Sabha University Journal site will be used for the aforementioned purposes only and for which they were used.