Abstract

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry (GCMS), fourier transformed infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) and physicochemical analysis of Commiphora kestingii gum have been carried out. The corrosion inhibition characteristics of C. kestingii (CK) gum on aluminium in sulphuric acid media were also investigated at 303 and 333K using gravimetric and scanning electron microscopic studies (SEM) method. The study revealed that the gum contains significant amount of Sucrose, Octadecanoic acid, Alpha camphorenal, Nerolidolisobutyrate, Diisopropenyl-1-methyl-1-vinyl cyclohexane, Abetic acid, Oleic acid, Verbenol, 2,6-dimethylhepta-1,5-diene, Naphthalene, Limonene, 7-hexadecenal and 10-methyl-8-tetradecen-1-ol acetate. Corrosion inhibition tests suggest that GS gum is a good inhibitor for the corrosion of Al in solution of H₂SO₄. The inhibition efficiency of this inhibitor increased with increasing temperature suggesting chemisorption mechanism. Also, the inhibition efficiency of these extract was found to increase in the presence of CK. Inhibition of Aluminium by C. kestingii gum occurred through synergistic adsorption of the various components of the gums hence the formation of multiple adsorption layer is proposed.

Key words: Commiphora kestingii gum, corrosion inhibitors, adsorption, aluminium.