Extraction of anticorrosion agents from tea plants

Associate Professor-Doctor Le Tu Hai, Dean of Chemistry Department, University of Education - Danang University has successfully researched the extraction of polyphenol compounds from tea and mangrove plants to prevent metal corrosion.

Tea plants contain tannin with relatively high content.(Internet photo)

This is a ministerial-level project, studied with the aim of extracting tannin-based polyphenol compounds from old and decayed tea leaves and mangrove bark in Quang Nam - Da Nang and applying polyphenol compounds to the tannin group to be the inhibitor. Clean, environmentally friendly in metal corrosion protection and lining for paint film.

The research results showed that tannin polyphenol compounds separated from some plant species such as tea leaves, mangrove bark can be used as an environmentally friendly inhibitor in metal corrosion and lining for paint film to replace traditional linings that are toxic to the environment.

Specifically, the cause of inhibiting metal corrosion of tannin is that tannin contains hydroxide and ketone groups, so when tannin is adsorbed onto the metal surface, the unconnected electrons of these groups can be associated with the orbitals. The metal left to form a ring or tannery complex with metal ions will separate the metal surface from the corrosive environment.

Research on metal corrosion and anti-corrosion solutions for metal has been a concern of many scientists. Some traditional inhibitors like chromate and phosphate have been used for a long time in the industry, however, because of their toxic nature, they are no longer used.

Many organic inhibitors have also been synthesized and applied, but the synthesis of these inhibitors is complex and has a relatively high cost.

According to Associate Professor and Doctor Le Tu Hai, Vietnam is a tropical country with rich flora, including many plants containing tannin with relatively high content such as mangrove, tea, acacia leaves, information . The use of these raw materials not only increases the use value of plant species containing tannin but also directly improves income for farmers.

With the scientific and practical significance, the topic has been assessed by the Scientific Council as a good one.