A Review on the Corrosion Inhibition Efficacy of Bitter Leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) and Mango Leaf (Mangifera indica) Extracts
Keywords:
Green Corrosion Inhibitor, Bitter Leaves Extract, Mango Leaves Extract, Vernonia Amygdalina, Mangifera Indica, Mild SteelAbstract
Corrosion of metallic infrastructure imposes substantial economic and environmental burdens, driving the search for sustainable alternatives to toxic synthetic corrosion inhibitors. This review systematically evaluates the utilization of bitter leaves (Vernonia amygdalina) and mango leaves (Mangifera indica) extracts as green corrosion inhibitors. The phytochemical compositions of these leaves are distinct: bitter leaves are rich in alkaloids, saponins, tannins, and flavonoids, while mango leaves contain predominantly mangiferin, gallotannins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Extraction methods—including maceration, Soxhlet, reflux, ultrasound-assisted, and microwave-assisted extraction—significantly influence the yield and composition of active compounds, with ethanol-water mixtures (70–80% ethanol) generally producing the most effective inhibitors. Experimental evaluation techniques commonly employed include weight loss measurements, potentiodynamic polarisation, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and surface characterisation (SEM, FTIR, XRD). For mild steel in 1 M hydrochloric acid, both extracts achieve inhibition efficiencies of 80–95% under optimized conditions (750–1500 ppm, 30–40°C, 24–72 hours). Mango leaves extract exhibits higher potency (requiring lower concentrations), superior thermal stability, better performance in neutral chloride media, stronger chemisorption, and greater batch-to-batch consistency, whereas bitter leaves extract remains a cost-effective option in regions where the plant is abundant. Inhibition mechanisms involve physisorption, chemisorption, chelation, site blocking, and double-layer alteration, with mango leaves demonstrating stronger chelation via gallotannin-iron complexation. Challenges include extract variability, storage stability, scalability, and lack of field validation. Future directions encompass formulation development, computational modeling, and industrial field trials.
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