Experimental and theoretical studies of Ficus religiosa as green corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in 0.5M H2SO4 solution

Corrosion inhibition analysis and adsorption behaviour of Ficus religiosa fruits extract for mild steel in 0.5M H2SO4 solution has been inquired utilizing scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), gravimetric measurements, electrochemical impendence spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization techniques, Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis.), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and quantum chemical calculations. Electrochemical investigation and gravimetric estimations say that the fruits extract of Ficus religiosa shows the most extreme inhibition efficiency of 92.26% at 500 mg/L. The appearance of Myricetin, Serotonin and Campesterol as major phytochemical constituents in the extract of Ficus religiosa, decrease the corrosion rate of mild steel in acidic media. The adsorption of this extract obeys the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Due to the presence of heteroatoms and aromatic rings in the major components of Ficus religiosa, it can serve as an effective corrosion inhibitor for mild steel corrosion in 0.5M H2SO4.