Corrosion Inhibition of Water Hyacinth on 1014 Steel in a Chloride Environment

Corrosion inhibition of water hyacinth extract of different concentrations was studied on 1014 steel in a chloride environment. Water hyacinth plants (eichhornia crassipes) are found on the sea and they constitute a menace, hindering water transportation and also competing with animals in the sea for nutrient and space. The water hyacinth leaves was pulverized and fluid extraction was done with hot water, 5 g – 30 g per 500 ml were concentrated to 5 g – 30 g per 200 ml. The extract from the water hyacinth was added to the sea water environment in which the carbon steels were placed for 30 days. The experimental setup was in two forms; a static environment and a dynamic environment. The corrosion products were analytically analyzed while the corrosion coupon was examined under a metallurgical microscope for film formation. The highest corrosion efficiency for opened static environment was obtained at 15 g/200 ml of the extract while 10 g/200 ml extract gave optimum corrosion efficiency for closed dynamic condition. The elemental composition of the water hyacinth after thirty days was observed to have a reduction in the metallic ions. The microstructure of the optimum corrosion inhibited samples revealed film formation after withdrawn from the chloride environment at the end of the exposure period. The mechanism of corrosion inhibition by the extract was predicted to be of film formation on the substrate and reduction of metallic ions forming crystal salt.