Unraveling the Adsorption Mechanism and Anti-Corrosion Functionality of Dextrin and Inulin as Eco-Friendly Biopolymers for the Corrosion of Reinforced Steel in 1.0 M HCl: A Thermodynamic and Kinetic Approach

Reinforcing steel (RS) is mainly used in building construction and many industries, but it suffers from corrosion problems, especially in acidic environments. Biopolymers are characterized by their unique chemical composition, as they contain a variety of functional groups that are capable of binding strongly to the metal surface and forming a protective layer on it. Herewith, two biopolymers, viz. dextrin (Dex) and inulin (Inu), were tested as eco-friendly inhibitors for the corrosion of RS in 1.0 M HCl medium at different temperatures. Various experimental tools were utilized in this research. The inhibition efficiencies (% IEs) of the tested polymeric compounds were improved by increasing their doses while reducing with rising temperature. The % IEs of Dex and Inu at a dose of 500 mg/L reached 85% and 93%, respectively. The examined biopolymers displayed cathodic/anodic behavior (mixed type) with a foremost anodic one. The acquired higher % IEs were demonstrated by intense adsorption of Dex and Inu on the RS surface fitting the Langmuir isotherm. The influence of rising temperature in the range of 288–318 K on the corrosion behavior was examined, and the evaluated thermodynamic and kinetic parameters sustained the mechanism of physical adsorption of the polymeric inhibitors. Additionally, the kinetics of corrosion, as well as its inhibition by Dex and Inu, were also investigated. The SEM micrographs of the RS surfaces were accorded with all utilized experimental tools. The results gained from all used tools were discovered to be in good agreement with each other.