Biopolymer from Tragacanth Gum as a Green Corrosion Inhibitor for Carbon Steel in 1 M HCl Solution

[Image: see text] A biopolymer from tragacanth gum, arabinogalactan (AG), was investigated for its adsorption and corrosion inhibition traits for carbon steel corrosion in 1 M HCl. Gravimetric method, potentiodynamic polarization measurements, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, UV–visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy were used to judge the adsorptive nature of AG in the acid solution. The inhibition efficiency improved with an increase in AG concentration and temperature of the acid solution. Thermodynamic and activation parameters (ΔG(ads), E(a), ΔH, and ΔS) were also calculated and discussed. The adsorption of AG favored Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The results of corrosion tests confirmed that AG could serve as an efficient green corrosion inhibitor for the carbon steel in 1 M HCl, yielding high efficiency and a low risk of environmental pollution. Theoretical quantum chemical and Monte Carlo simulation studies corroborated the experimental results.