Eco-Friendly Corrosion Inhibition of Mild Steel Using Fruit Peel Extracts in Acidic Medium

Corrosion of mild steel in acidic environments poses a significant industrial challenge, leading to economic losses and structural failures. This study investigates the efficiency of fruit peel extracts (lemon, orange, and banana) as green corrosion inhibitors in 1M HCl solution. Weight loss measurements, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were utilized to analyze the inhibition performance. Results indicate that inhibition efficiency increases with extract concentration, with orange peel extract exhibiting the highest efficiency (91.39% at 1000 ppm). SEM images confirm reduced surface degradation in the presence of inhibitors. These findings highlight the potential of fruit peel extracts as sustainable corrosion inhibitors. The application of natural extracts not only mitigates environmental hazards associated with synthetic inhibitors but also promotes economic feasibility by utilizing agricultural waste.