Use of licorice plant extract for controlling corrosion of steel rebar in chloride-polluted concrete pore solution Articles uri icon

publication date

  • January 2022

start page

  • 1

end page

  • 15

issue

  • 117856

volume

  • 346

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0167-7322

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1873-3166

abstract

  • The possibility of using licorice extract as a green inhibitor for steel reinforcements in chloride-contaminated simulated concrete pore solution was explored in this study. Different licorice amounts were added to alkaline solutions and then 1% NaCl was also added. Electrochemical studies, up to 24 h, and surface analysis (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy) were performed. Results demonstrated the inhibition effectiveness of the plant extract on steel rebar corrosion, regardless of the concentration, being detected an inhibition efficiency higher than 80 % with electrochemical techniques for 0.1% licorice extract, which showed the most effective performance. Surface analysis methods confirmed the presence of licorice on the surface, through the deposition of organic molecules present in the plant extract on the surface oxide/hydroxide. DFT calculations confirmed that compounds present in licorice can be chemically adsorbed on steel oxide surface.

keywords

  • steel rebar; licorice extract; green corrosion inhibitor; simulated concrete pore solution; electrochemical assessment; surface analysis