Application of a new inhibitor for the corrosion of iron in acidic solution: Electrochemical effect of a scorpion venom

In this study, the venom of the species Leiurus abdullahbayrami, known as the yellow scorpion from the Buthidae family, was applied for the first time as a natural corrosion inhibitor for iron in hydrochloric acid solution. The effectiveness of scorpion venom as an eco-friendly and natural inhibitor was determined by electrochemical methods such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization (Tafel extrapolation method) and linear polarization resistance (LPR) after an hour of immersion. Four different concentrations were determined for the green and natural inhibitor scorpion venom in 1.0 M HCl, and it was observed that the corrosion of iron in these solutions was significantly inhibited. In general, the inhibition efficiency was above 80%. According to the potentiodynamic polarization data, it has been determined that the Leiurus abdullahbayrami venom acts as a cathodic-type inhibitor on the Fe surface. Finally, the surface images of the iron electrodes in 1.0 M HCl solutions without and with Leiurus abdullahbayrami venom after 1 h immersion were examined by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), it was concluded that the surface containing scorpion venom had a flatter compared to the uninhibited surface.