Publications

The impact of Ceratonia silique L. (carob) leaf extract as an antiscalant in an alkaline CaCl2 brine solution was examined using the static anti-scaling technique, conductivity, and chronoamperometry measurements as well as optical photographic study. Mineral scales were deposited from the brine solution by cathodic polarization of the mild steel surface to –0.8 V. The electrochemical behavior of the formed film was tested in simulating seawater solutions (0.5 M NaCl) using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique. Functional groups and organic compounds of carob leaf extract were identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The obtained results showed that carob leaf extract can be used safely as an antiscalant and corrosion inhibitor for cooling systems. Moreover, the used techniques showed that scale deposits and the surface area occupied decreased with increasing carob leaf extracts concentrations. EIS measurements revealed that carob leaf extract retards the corrosion rate of steel in simulating seawater solutions.