The inhibition of copper corrosion by Helichrysum italicum extract (HI) in simulated acid rain was investigated using electrochemical techniques. Results indicate an increase in corrosion inhibition efficiency with the HI extract concentration. The inhibitive process was assumed to occur via adsorption of the extract on the metal surface. The thermodynamic data indicated physical adsorption and followed the Freundlich isotherm. The effect of temperature on the copper corrosion was studied. The value of the activation energy confirmed physisorption of extract molecules on the copper surface. The concentration of Cu ions released into solution, measured by atomic absorption spectrometry, was in accordance with the electrochemical results.

The aqueous extract of the Helichrysum italicum leaves (HI) is tested as a corrosion inhibitor of an iron in a simulated acid rain using potentiodynamic polarisation, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Results of all electrochemical methods indicate an increase of a corrosion inhibition efficiency of the iron with the HI extract concentration. Maximum inhibition efficiency (~ 50 %) is obtained at 2.0 g L–1 HI extract. The inhibitive action is assumed to occur via an adsorption of the HI extract on the iron surface. Results indicate that the adsorption process is spontaneous and follows the Freundlich adsorption isotherm. According to the calculated ΔG value (~ 15 kJ mol–1), the corrosion inhibition of the iron occurs predominantly via a physisorption of the HI extract. The concentration of iron ions released into a solution, measured by atomic absorption spectrometry, is in accordance with the electrochemical results.

The growth mechanism and properties of the oxide films on iron and AISI 304 stainless steel were studied in simulated acid rain (pH 4.5) by means of electrochemical techniques and atomic absorption spectrometry. The layer-pore resistance model was applied to explain a potentiodynamic formation of surface oxides. It was found that the growth of the oxide film on iron takes place by the low-field migration mechanism, while that on the stainless steel takes place by the high-field mechanism. Kinetic parameters were determined. Impedance measurements revealed that Fe surface film has no protective properties at the open circuit potential, while the resistance of stainless steel oxide film is very high. The concentration of the metallic ions released into solution and measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy was in accordance with the results obtained from the electrochemical techniques.

Considering the vast cultural and traditional heritage of the use of aromatic herbs and wildflowers for the treatment of light medical conditions in the Balkans, a comparison of the antioxidant capacity of wildflowers extracts from Herzegovina was studied using both cyclic voltammetry and spectrophotometry. The cyclic voltammograms taken in the potential range between 0 V and 800 mV and scan rate of 100 mV s−1 were used for the quantification of the electrochemical properties of polyphenols present in four aqueous plant extracts. Antioxidant capacity expressed as mmoL of gallic acid equivalents per gram of dried weight of the sample (mmoL GAE g−1 dw) was deduced from the area below the major anodic peaks (Q400 pH 6.0, Q500 pH 4.7, Q600 pH 3.6). The results of electrochemical measurements suggest that the major contributors of antioxidant properties of examined plants are polyphenolic compounds that contain ortho-dihydroxy-phenol or gallate groups. Using Ferric reducing-antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2′-azino-bis spectrophotometric methods (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical cation-scavenging activity (ABTS) additionally determined antioxidant capacity. The FRAP results ranged from 2.9702–9.9418 mmoL Fe/g dw, while the results for ABTS assays expressed as Trolox equivalents (TE) ranged from 14.1842–42.6217 mmoL TE/g dw. The Folin–Ciocalteu procedure was applied to determine the total phenolics content (TP). The TP content expressed as Gallic acid equivalents (GAE) ranged from 6.0343–9.472 mmoL GAE/g dw. The measurements of total flavonoid (TF) and total condensed tannin (TT) contents were also performed to obtain a broader polyphenolic profile of tested plant materials. Origanum vulgare L. scored the highest on each test, with the exception of TT content, followed by the Mentha × piperita L., Artemisia annua L., and Artemisia absinthium L., respectively. The highest TT content, expressed as mg of (−)catechin equivalents per gram of dried weight of sample (mg CE/g dw), was achieved with A. absinthium extract (119.230 mg CE/g dw) followed by O. vulgare (90.384 mg CE/g dw), A. annua (86.538 mg CE/g dw) and M. piperita (69.231 mg CE/g dw), respectively. In addition, a very good correlation between electrochemical and spectroscopic methods was achieved.

Extract of Alchemilla vulgaris L. was investigated as eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor for aluminium in 3 % NaCl using electrochemical techniques. According to the results, inhibition efficiency increases with the increase concentration of extract and the highest efficiency (~80 %) is recorded for the maximal concentration of extract (1.0 g L -1 ). The inhibition activity of extract occurs by the spontaneous physisorption (ΔG ≈ -16 kJ mol -1 ) on active sites of aluminium surface that follows Freundlich isotherm. Polarization curves showed that Alchemilla vulgaris L.extract act s a mixed-type inhibitor. The effect of temperature on the aluminium corrosion and inhibition action of extract was studied and the result showed that the corrosion rate increased and the inhibitor efficiency decreased with increase of temperature. The calculated values of the activation energy confirmed presence of inhibitive Alchemilla vulgaris L. extract on aluminium surface.