Green corrosion inhibition of carbon steel in 10% (v/v) HCl solution using cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica) extract

Green corrosion inhibition of carbon steel in 10% (v/v) HCl solution using cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica) extract | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Green corrosion inhibition of carbon steel in 10% (v/v) HCl solution using cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica) extract Eric M. Garcia, Hosane A. Taroco, Julio O.F Melo This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8491725/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 19 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Corrosion of carbon steel in acidic environments is a major industrial problem with significant economic and environmental impacts. In this study, an innovative and sustainable corrosion inhibition strategy is proposed using an aqueous extract of cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica), a native fruit from the Brazilian Cerrado—one of the largest and most biodiverse biomes worldwide. Electrochemical measurements in 10 wt% HCl showed that the cagaita extract reduces the corrosion current density from 8.51 × 10⁻⁴ to 0.68 × 10⁻⁴ A·cm⁻² at 0.3 g·L⁻¹, corresponding to an inhibition efficiency of 80–92%. Minor displacement of the corrosion potential (≈ 7 mV), together with reductions in both anodic and cathodic Tafel slopes, indicates a mixed-type inhibition mechanism governed by adsorption. Adsorption behavior followed the Freundlich isotherm (R² = 0.9973), while the Langmuir model yielded a high affinity constant (K L = 21.99 L·g⁻¹) and near-unity surface coverage. The estimated adsorption free energy (ΔG°_ads ≈ − 31.6 kJ·mol⁻¹) and the decrease in activation energy from 53.8 to 48.6 kJ·mol⁻¹ confirm strong adsorption and surface-blocking effects. Spectroscopic analyses confirmed the predominance of phenolic compounds, mainly epicatechin and quercetin, supporting the use of biodiversity-rich biomes such as the Brazilian Cerrado as valuable sources of green and effective corrosion inhibitors. Eugenia dysenterica Green corrosion inhibitor Carbon steel Sustainable materials Cagaita extract Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 14 May, 2026 Reviews received at journal 25 Feb, 2026 Reviews received at journal 22 Feb, 2026 Reviews received at journal 20 Feb, 2026 Reviews received at journal 17 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 14 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 13 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 12 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 12 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 12 Feb, 2026 Reviews received at journal 04 Feb, 2026 Reviews received at journal 03 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 31 Jan, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 29 Jan, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 29 Jan, 2026 Editor invited by journal 11 Jan, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 10 Jan, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 09 Jan, 2026 First submitted to journal 09 Jan, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8491725","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":587618397,"identity":"92042de0-9970-4193-8636-3ef0715e3246","order_by":0,"name":"Eric M. Garcia","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAxklEQVRIiWNgGAWjYFACxgaGDwxyIIpBgoHhAHFaGGcwGJOkhYGBmQeoBQSI08Ivfbjxs22bgT1zA/PB2zwMd/IJapHsS2yWzm0zSGxsYEu25mF4ZtlASIvBGcY25ty2PwmMDTxm0jwMhw0I2mIP0mIJdBhjA/834rQY8AC1MLYZMDY28LARp0XiDGOzZM85oF+a2Ywt5xg8I6yFv4f94YcfZQb2hu3ND2+8qbhDWAscGDaD3Um8BgYGeVIUj4JRMApGwcgCAGzvNGrD7o9pAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"UFSJ","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Eric","middleName":"M.","lastName":"Garcia","suffix":""},{"id":587618398,"identity":"2a07cf02-d720-483b-a32b-9d98e93da8ea","order_by":1,"name":"Hosane A. Taroco","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"UFSJ","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Hosane","middleName":"A.","lastName":"Taroco","suffix":""},{"id":587618399,"identity":"1ced3a86-eadd-4a78-a689-8463b0e80f20","order_by":2,"name":"Julio O.F Melo","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"UFSJ","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Julio","middleName":"O.F","lastName":"Melo","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-12-31 18:38:10","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8491725/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8491725/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":102397898,"identity":"581668c6-c604-43f3-ac45-7ba505a76f80","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-02-11 10:20:04","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":847488,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"paper.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8491725/v1_covered_865cb069-ab3e-4486-b970-e7c2a0d96118.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Green corrosion inhibition of carbon steel in 10% (v/v) HCl solution using cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica) extract","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-electrochemistry","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Electrochemistry](https://link.springer.com/journal/44373)","snPcode":"44373","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/44373/3","title":"Discover Electrochemistry","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Eugenia dysenterica, Green corrosion inhibitor, Carbon steel, Sustainable materials, Cagaita extract","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8491725/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8491725/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eCorrosion of carbon steel in acidic environments is a major industrial problem with significant economic and environmental impacts. In this study, an innovative and sustainable corrosion inhibition strategy is proposed using an aqueous extract of cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica), a native fruit from the Brazilian Cerrado\u0026mdash;one of the largest and most biodiverse biomes worldwide.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eElectrochemical measurements in 10 wt% HCl showed that the cagaita extract reduces the corrosion current density from 8.51 \u0026times; 10⁻⁴ to 0.68 \u0026times; 10⁻⁴ A\u0026middot;cm⁻\u0026sup2; at 0.3 g\u0026middot;L⁻\u0026sup1;, corresponding to an inhibition efficiency of 80\u0026ndash;92%. Minor displacement of the corrosion potential (\u0026asymp;\u0026thinsp;7 mV), together with reductions in both anodic and cathodic Tafel slopes, indicates a mixed-type inhibition mechanism governed by adsorption. Adsorption behavior followed the Freundlich isotherm (R\u0026sup2; = 0.9973), while the Langmuir model yielded a high affinity constant (K\u003csub\u003eL\u003c/sub\u003e = 21.99 L\u0026middot;g⁻\u0026sup1;) and near-unity surface coverage. The estimated adsorption free energy (ΔG\u0026deg;_ads\u0026thinsp;\u0026asymp;\u0026thinsp;\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;31.6 kJ\u0026middot;mol⁻\u0026sup1;) and the decrease in activation energy from 53.8 to 48.6 kJ\u0026middot;mol⁻\u0026sup1; confirm strong adsorption and surface-blocking effects.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSpectroscopic analyses confirmed the predominance of phenolic compounds, mainly epicatechin and quercetin, supporting the use of biodiversity-rich biomes such as the Brazilian Cerrado as valuable sources of green and effective corrosion inhibitors.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Green corrosion inhibition of carbon steel in 10% (v/v) HCl solution using cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica) extract","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-02-10 17:52:18","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8491725/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2026-05-14T07:31:15+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-02-25T07:08:46+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-02-22T16:51:19+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-02-20T21:30:48+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-02-17T09:10:57+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"30459366190349609608399008318094143400","date":"2026-02-14T15:24:37+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"40984945842544586390387073182780533248","date":"2026-02-13T20:08:42+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"67356298420640111007442992966450967417","date":"2026-02-13T04:10:38+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"73670851575469521771083832365837100778","date":"2026-02-12T17:52:53+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"186918857578174504982243907774493138173","date":"2026-02-12T11:16:11+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-02-04T15:42:05+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-02-03T14:45:51+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"228760404011953026863260958939982329835","date":"2026-01-31T10:19:41+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"122399730932267473447798529811519399946","date":"2026-01-29T11:49:56+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-01-29T05:32:45+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2026-01-12T04:28:56+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-01-10T07:02:38+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-01-09T14:31:20+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Discover Electrochemistry","date":"2026-01-09T14:18:18+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-electrochemistry","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Electrochemistry](https://link.springer.com/journal/44373)","snPcode":"44373","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/44373/3","title":"Discover Electrochemistry","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"31f8a775-2d55-47f2-a956-bd1d83d9593e","owner":[],"postedDate":"February 10th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2026-05-14T07:31:15+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-05-18T20:53:09+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-02-10 17:52:18","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8491725","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8491725","identity":"rs-8491725","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}