Extract of natural plants is one of the most important metallic corrosion inhibitors. They are readily available, nontoxic, environmentally friendly, biodegradable, highly efficient, and renewable. The present project focuses on the corrosion inhibition effects of Peganum Harmala leaf extract. The equivalent circuit with two time constants with film and charge transfer components gave the best fitting of impedance data. Extraction of active species by sonication proved to be an effective new method to extract the inhibitors. High percent inhibition efficacy IE% of 98% for 283.4 ppm solutions was attained using impedance spectroscopy EIS measurements. The values of charge transfer R_ct increases while the double layer capacitance C_dl values decrease with increasing Harmal extract concentration. This indicates the formation of protective film. The polarization curves show that the Harmal extract acts as a cathodic-type inhibitor. It is found that the adsorption of Harmal molecules onto the steel surface followed Langmuir isotherm. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy FTIR was used to determine the electron-rich functional groups in Harmal extract, which contribute to corrosion inhibition effect. Scanning electron microscopy SEM measurement of a steel surface clearly proves the anticorrosion effect of Harmal leaves.

Batch and column biosorption experiments were carried on for lead uptake using ecofriendly biosorbents (raw and calcium chloride [CaCl₂] or formaldehyde pretreated form of red marine algae Jania ruben [Linnaeus]). The best-fit (linear and nonlinear) isotherms, kinetics, and column adsorption models were identified using statistical analysis. Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin, Redlich–Peterson, and Elovich adsorption isotherm models were tested. Highest adsorption capacity (774 mg/g) has been observed with Jania algae pretreated with formaldehyde. Pseudo-first- and second-order adsorption kinetics were applicable. The column capacity for lead removal with Jania pretreated with CaCl₂ was found to be 1089.6 (mg/g) from the breakthrough curve area method. Thomas, Yoon-Nelson, Yan, and Clark column models were tested with regression analysis. Thomas model is the best column model with capacity q_Th = 1092.4 mg/g. Overall, 98.5% regeneration of column was achieved, indicating the suitability of using algae materials in multioperational cycles. Adsorbed lead present in algae material was confirmed by thermal analysis.

Hydrothermal carbonization of pine needles (HTC-PN) and their oxidized-activated form HTC-APN are prepared and applied for the adsorption of Malachite Green (MG) in aqueous solution. The HTC materials were characterized by thermal and TEM analysis. Adsorbent dose, initial concentration of MG, contact time, temperature and pH effect on MG adsorption onto the HTC materials were studied. The adsorption equilibrium data was best fitted by the Langmuir isotherm model and the adsorption kinetics followed pseudo-second-order models for both HTC-PN and HTC-APN. The maximum capacity predicted by the Langmuir nonlinear model is 52.91 and 97.08 mg g⁻¹ for uptake of MG by HTC-PN and HTC-APN, respectively, at 30 °C. Thermodynamic investigations showed that the adsorption is spontaneous and endothermic in nature. Results suggest HTC-APN can be used as a low-cost adsorbent for MG removal from industrial wastewater. Yoon–Nelson is the best model with a column capacity of 38.3 mg g⁻¹ for the adsorption of MG onto HTC-APN.