Steel performs high chemical activity, which makes it vulnerable to acid attack. In industries that use methanesulfonic acid as a greener alternative to traditional inorganic acids, the steel equipment still corrodes.
Here, a team from Southwest Forestry University finds a sustainable answer in rapeseed straw. Using a simple ethanol reflux method, they extract a yellowish, water-soluble powder (RSE) rich in active functional groups.
When added to 0.10 mol/L methanesulfonic acid at just 200 mg/L, RSE would reduce steel corrosion by 91.72%, with performance improving at higher temperatures. Electrochemical tests show that RSE simultaneously suppresses both the anode dissolution and cathode hydrogen evolution reactions, while significantly increasing charge transfer resistance. XPS and surface analysis confirm that RSE molecules adsorb onto the steel surface, forming a compact protective film that blocks corrosive ions. This synergistic strategy physically seals the steel surface and reduces the consumption of corrosive H⁺ and CH₃SO₃⁻ ions.
This study offers a low-cost, biodegradable corrosion inhibitor for industry, and turns waste into a resource. The work titled "Corrosion inhibition performance and mechanism of rapeseed straw extract for cold-rolled steel in methanesulfonic acid", was published on Journal of Forestry Engineering (published on July 25, 2026).
