Inhibition effect of berberine on the corrosion of copper in acidic medium

Abstract

Inhibition of copper corrosion by berberine in 0.5 M HCl was investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization techniques. The inhibition efficiency of berberine was studied for five concentrations in the range 5.0×10 -5 -5.0×10 -3 M. Potentiodynamic polarization curves indicated that berberine act as mixed type inhibitor. The adsorption of the inhibitor was more suited with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm and kinetic parameters K ads and ?G ads were determined at room temperature. The surface morphology of the copper after its exposure to 0.5 M HCl solution with and without 5.0×10 -3 M berberine was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that berberine performed well inhibiting effect for the corrosion of the copper.