Portugaliae
Electrochimica Acta

Cyclic voltammetric studies were carried out on pure iron in alkaline borate and phosphate buffer solutions at pH 10.8. At higher potentials, on anodic polarization, iron forms FeB4O7 and FeOOH in borate buffer, and FeHPO4 in phosphate buffer which got converted to higher valency phosphates. In phosphate solutions, in presence of halides, the interfacial diffusion layer turned to be cation selective outer sublayer and an anion selective inner sublayer, and in borate solutions a precipitate layer of metal oxyhydroxide was formed, which was anion selective, and anions adsorb on this.

This work attempts to determine the best conditions for applying the Electrochemical Chloride Removal (ECR) in rebars embedded in cement mortar with chloride additions by monitoring the corrosion rates before, during and after the application of an ECR. The ECR was applied at different conditions of current density (1 and 2 A/m2 of steel surface), application times (15, 30 and 60 days) and degree of precorrosion of the rebars. According to the results obtained, if ECR is applied preventively, it is an efficient procedure for delaying the start of corrosion. However, if applied too late, it does not assure the repassivation of corroded reinforced concrete structures and is therefore useless. The efficiency of the ECR depends heavily on the application time and the degree of precorrosion of the rebars.

The influence of a natural extract of fenugreek on the corrosion of steel in 1 M HCl has been studied by weight loss, polarisation and EIS measurements. Results obtained show that the natural substance inhibits the corrosion process. It acts on the cathodic domain without modifying the reduction mechanism. The inhibition efficiency increases with fenugreek concentration to attain 94% at extract of 10 g/L of fenugreek at temperatures between 308 and 353K. It is an efficient inhibitor. The effect of temperature on the corrosion behaviour of steel indicated that inhibition efficiency is temperature-independent. The activation energy of adsorption is determined.

The corrosion behavior of aged and annealed sample of 18 Ni 250 grade maraging steel was investigated in varied conditions of concentration and temperature of sulphuric acid medium, using electrochemical techniques like Tafel polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results obtained from both the techniques are in good agreement. These results have shown increase in corrosion rate of aged specimen with increase in concentration and temperature of sulphuric acid. With increase in concentration of sulphuric acid from 0.025 M to 0.25 M the corrosion rate of annealed sample was found to increase, but there after in 0.5 M, 0.75 M and 1 M, the rate of corrosion decreases, indicating passivation of alloy surface at higher concentration of sulphuric acid. The corrosion rate of aged specimen was found to be higher than that of the annealed specimen. Similar observations are revealed by SEM images. The thermodynamic parameters like activation energy, enthalpy of activation and entropy of activation were calculated.

Four heterocyclic compounds, namely 4- phenyl-5-acetyl/carbethoxy-3-methyl-6-hydroxyl-6-methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2,1-benzoisoxazole and benzopyrazole (BIS1, BP1and BIS2, BP2), were synthesized and their influence on the inhibition of corrosion of mild steel in 1 M H2SO4 was investigated by means of weight loss, potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance (EIS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The values of activation energy and free energy of adsorption of these compounds were also calculated. Adsorption obeys Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The IE of the compounds was found to vary with concentration and temperature. Synergistic effect was also investigated for the four compounds at 0.05 mM concentration by weight loss method in 1 M H2SO4 medium in presence of KI, KBr and KCl. Results obtained revealed that all the four compounds performed excellently as a corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in 1 M H2S04 and their efficiency attains more than 90% at 0.6 mM at 298 K. Polarisation studies showed them to be mixed type inhibitors.

The present study attempted to investigate the best conditions for the use of a mixture of 2-mercaptobenzimidazole and alcohol ethoxylate (C13) as corrosion inhibitor of mild steel in 1 M HCl through the use of the surface response methodology. A matrix of Doelhert to 4 factors was used as the experimental design in this research as it permits the use of the response surface methodology in a spherical field. The response used in the exploitation of the design was the determination of the inhibitor efficiency. It was assessed through gravimetric measurements on samples in the absence and presence of the inhibitor. The results were confirmed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).

Inhibition of the corrosion of zinc in various concentrations of H2SO4 by lincomycin was studied using weight loss and hydrogen evolution methods. The results obtained indicated that lincomycin is a good adsorption inhibitor for the corrosion of zinc in H2SO4 solutions. The inhibition efficiencies of lincomycin for the corrosion of zinc in H2SO4 were found to range from 70.90 to 80.32 %, 69.25 to 77.70 % and from 52.11 to 67.49 % at 303, 313 and 323 K, respectively. The inhibition efficiencies decreased with increase in temperature and with increasing concentration of H2SO4 but increased with increase in the concentration of lincomycin. The adsorption of lincomycin on Zn surface is endothermic, spontaneous and is best described by Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Base on the trend in the variation of inhibition efficiency with temperature and the calculated values of the activation and free energies of adsorption, a physical adsorption mechanism is proposed for the adsorption of lincomycin on the surface of zinc.

The electroreduction of the antidepressant drug Bupropion hydrochloride has been studied in aqueous media at dme. Single well defined wave was obtained in different supporting electrolytes, like, KNO3, ammonium citrate buffer, acetate buffer, B. R. buffer, etc. The effect of pH on this reduction has been studied in B. R. buffer in the pH range 3.13 – 11.0. The Bupropion hydrochloride is best reduced in slightly acidic medium. This behavior was attributed to the reduction of >C=O group present in the drug. The effect of concentration and temperature on half wave potential has also been investigated. The reduction of drug was found to be irreversible and diffusion controlled, hence kinetic parameters (K0fh, αn) are evaluated using Meites Israel and Gaur Bharagav,s method. Further, with increase in temperature the values of K0fh also increase, showing that irreversibility of the system decreases on increasing the temperature.

As a first step towards inhibition of uniform and pitting corrosion processes of Al in SCN- solutions, glycine (Gly) was used. Full immersion tests, using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) method of chemical analysis were used to monitor rates of corrosion. The results obtained from the ICP method have been verified by electrochemical assays based on linear and cyclic polarization measurements. Monitoring the open circuit potential (OCP) of the system as a function of immersion time and Gly concentration was also carried out. SEM and EDX examinations of the electrode surface revealed the adsorption of Gly molecule on the surface. Results showed that the presence of Gly in aggressive SCN- solutions decreased the corrosion and passive currents and shifted the pitting potential to more noble values. Thus Gly inhibited uniform and pitting corrosion processes. The inhibition efficiency of Gly enhanced with its concentration. The potential of zero charge (PZC) of the Al electrode has been studied in 0.04 M KSCN solutions without and with Gly and the mechanism of adsorption is discussed. The adsorption of Gly precluded significant adsorption of the aggressive SCN- anions, and hence the corrosion rate was diminished.

To improve the corrosion resistance of mild steel, in this work, bi-layers of BTSE (bis-(triethoxysilyl) ethane) and Ppy coatings have been deposited via adsorption and electrodeposition, respectively. The anticorrosive properties of these bi-layers have been evaluated in an aggressive medium like 3% NaCl, and compared with the layers of BTSE and Ppy in a separate way. In spite of the aggressive solution, it was evaluated a poor behaviour of both Ppy and BTSE coatings using potential measurements, EIS and SEM techniques. A better behaviour was expected because the preparation of the bi-layers Ppy/BTSE and BTSE/Ppy showed a protective behaviour using SEM and salt spray tests. However, EIS results predicted an evolution of these coatings for long immersion times being evident the oxidation of the steel.

The adsorption capacity of Eichhornia Crassipes towards metal ions such as Fe3+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, Cr3+ and Cd2+, was studied. The adsorption capacity was investigated by batch experiments. The results showed that the removal percentages increased as the weight of sorbent increased, except for Fe3+ and Zn2+. The effect of contact time was also studied and the results showed that the removal percentages increased as the contact time increased for Cr3+, Zn2+ and Pb2+, but for Fe3+, Cu2+ and Cd2+ the removal decreased. The effect of pH of the solution was also studied and the removal percentages increased as pH increased. Also the effect of the initial concentration of metal ions was studied at four different concentrations (5, 10, 30, 50 mg/L); in case of metal ions (Cu2+, Zn2+ and Cd2+) the removal percentages increased by increasing initial concentration. But, for the other metal ions it decreased by increasing initial concentration over 30 mg/L. The order of increasing removal percentages of metal ions at pH=4.86, initial concentration of metal ions 30 mg/L, and after four hours of shaking was: Cu2+< Cr3+

Ti-15Mo alloy has been evaluated for its electrochemical behavior in phosphate buffer saline solution at the physiological temperature of 37 ºC. A two time constant model of a duplex oxide layer has been used to assess the corrosion behavior of the Ti-15Mo alloy-solution interface using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Interfacial characteristics of the inner barrier layer and the outer porous layer have been studied to understand the role of the alloy as an implant. Ti-15Mo alloy shows a very high barrier layer resistance and a tendency to resist localized corrosion.

The inhibition efficiency of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in controlling corrosion of carbon steel in aqueous solution containing 120 ppm of Cl− in the presence and absence of Zn2+ has been evaluated by weight loss method. The formulation consisting of 300 ppm of SDS and 75 ppm of Zn2+ gives 93 % inhibition efficiency. A synergistic effect exists between SDS and Zn2+. As the immersion period increases, the inhibition efficiency of SDS-Zn2+ decreases. Polarization study reveals that this formulation controls both the anodic and cathodic reactions. AC impedance spectra reveal that a protective film is formed on the metal surface.

Inhibition of the corrosion of zinc in 0.01 to 0.0 4 M H2SO4 by erythromycin was studied using weight loss and hydrogen evolution methods. The results obtained indicate that erythromycin is a good adsorption inhibitor for the corrosion of zinc in H2SO4 solutions. The inhibition efficiency of erythromycin increases with increasing concentration but decreases with increase in temperature. Thermodynamic and adsorption studies reveal that the adsorption of erythromycin on zinc surface is exothermic, spontaneous and is characterised with increasing degree of orderliness. The adsorption characteristics of the inhibitor are best described by the Langmuir adsorption model. From the variation of inhibition efficiency with temperature and the calculated values of the activation and free energies (which are within the limits expected for physical adsorption), we propose that the adsorption of erythromycin on zinc surface is consistent with the mechanism of physical adsorption.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a neutrophil enzyme that employs hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to catalyze the oxidation of halides and thiocyanate to their respective hypohalous acids. In this study, the inhibitory effect of nitrite (NO2-) on MPO-catalytic activity was investigated electrochemically. H2O2 consumption during steady-state catalysis was monitored amperometrically by a carbon fiber based H2O2-biosensor at 25 oC. Optimized initial concentrations were 50 nM MPO, 10 μM H2O2, and a selected halide or thiocyanate concentration from physiological range. Under these conditions, reactions were monophasic and rapid (complete H2O2 consumption occurs in < 10 s). As concentration of NO2- increases, reactions change to biphasic (rapid step followed by a slow step) and both steps have been inhibited by NO2-. Our results confirmed the inhibitory effect of NO2- and demonstrated for the first time that NO2- is a strong inhibitor towards MPO-catalyzed oxidation of iodide and bromide; and a weak inhibitor towards MPO-catalyzed oxidation of chloride and thiocyanate.

Surface modification by chitosan (CT) on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was employed in the present study to determine metal traces (Cu, Pb, Cd, Co, As and Pt). Previous report about the chitosan film affinity toward positive or negative species demonstrated and allowed the application of these polymeric films for detecting heavy metals in aqueous solutions. The modified surface exhibited an affinity to chelating metal ions in solution, forming complexes. Differential pulse voltammetry combined with a pre-concentrating process and standard addition method were employed for trace analysis, obtaining the detection ranges (Cu (II) from 3.99E-6 to 3.91E-5 mol L-1, Pb(II) from 1.99E-6 to 1.58E-5 mol L-1, Cd(II) from 1.59E-5 to 6.23E-5 mol L-1, As(IV) from 7.99E-6 to 5.04E-5 mol L-1, Pt(IV) from 8.19E-6 to 3.59E-5 mol L-1, Co(II) from 6.11E-4 to 2.78E-3 mol L-1), calibrations plots and relevant equations for each metal. Finally, cyclic voltammetry technique was used to characterize the polymeric surface behavior in presence of different metals and during the differential pulse voltammetric analysis. The results are described and discussed in the light of the existing literature.

The inhibition of copper corrosion in 3.5% NaCl solution has been studied at 25 oC using three inhibitors: 1-phenyl-2,4-dithiobiuret(Inh I), 1-p-methoxyphenyl-2,4-dithiobiuret(Inh II) and 1-p-chlorophenyl-2,4-dithiobiuret(Inh III). The inhibition efficiencies of these compounds have been evaluated by weight loss and electrochemical methods (impedance spectroscopy and polarisation curves). The surface study was done by using SEM and ESCA techniques. The inhibition efficiencies of the inhibitors follow the sequence Inh II > Inh I > Inh III. The inhibitors Inh I, Inh II and Inh III appear to inhibit corrosion process through the formation of a protective film which was found to consist of Cu(I)-inhibitor complex, cuprous chloride CuCl or CuCl2- complex ions or both on the surface.

Optical, electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical features of a family of triisopropylsilyl (TIPS) end-capped oligothienoacenes from the tetramer to the octamer are studied. The oxidation potentials and the formation and stability of the different oxidized species are influenced by the oligothienoacene chain length. The effect of the steric hindrance caused by the substituents on the -dimerization of the radical cations is also investigated by comparing a trimethylsilyl (TMS) substituted pentathienoacene with a TIPS substituted one.

Square-wave voltammetry was used to explore the adsorption property of cefadroxil complex with copper ions on the hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). By employing the adsorptive stripping voltammetric approach, a sensitive electroanalytical method for the quantitative analysis of cefadroxil antibiotic was achieved. A well-developed voltammetric peak was obtained in pH 10 Britton-Robinson buffer (B-R buffer) at -650 mV. The cyclic voltammetric studies indicated that the reduction process was irreversible and primarily controlled by adsorption. An investigation of the variation of adsorptive voltammetric peak current with supporting electrolyte, pH, accumulation time, accumulation potential, scan rate, pulse amplitude, SW frequency, working electrode area and convection rate has resulted in the recognition of optimal experimental conditions for cefadroxil analysis. The studied electroanalytical signal showed a linear response for cefadroxil in the concentration range 6E-7 - 2E-6 mol L-1 (r = 0.999). A limit of detection of 2E-9 mol L-1 with relative standard deviation of 2.783 RSD% and mean recovery of 99% was obtained. Possible interferences by several substances usually present in pharmaceutical formulation were also evaluated. The analytical quantification of cefadroxil in commercially available pharmaceutical formulation was performed and compared with data from HPLC technique.

Corrosion of the embedded steel reinforcements (rebars) in concrete is the major reason for the deterioration of concrete structures. One of the effective methods of overcoming this serious problem is by applying a barrier coating to the steel rebars. The barrier coating on steel rebars isolates the steel from the immediate environment and also acts as an insulator to prevent the corrosion. Four different coatings have been formulated using resins such as epoxy silicone-polyamide, polyester polyol-aromatic isocyanate, and acrylic polyol-aromatic isocyanate. These formulations consist of either ordinary portland cement (OPC) or fly ash as extender (pozzolanic pigments) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc phosphate as the main pigment. All these coatings have been studied for their barrier protection and other mechanical properties. Evaluation study of these coatings include Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), chemical resistance tests and mechanical tests such as flexibility, impact resistance, adhesion, hardness and abrasion resistance, etc., as per ASTM standards and the results are discussed elaborately. It has been concluded from this study that the epoxy silicone-polyamide resin based coating formulation shows good mechanical properties in addition to the barrier protection to the steel rebars from the corrosive environments.