This interdisciplinary study explores the potential of bioactive compounds from Aronia melanocarpa pomace, a juice industry by-product. The ethanol extract of the pomace was analyzed using HPLC, revealing key polyphenolic acids and anthocyanins. The extract exhibited outstanding antioxidant activity (100% as measured by the ABTS assay and 98.23% as measured by the DPPH assay) and >99% antibacterial efficacy against E. coli and S. aureus. This bioactive extract was utilized in a one-step process to dye and functionalize textiles (wool, silk, cellulose acetate, cotton, and viscose), with cotton and viscose suited for colored disposable bioactive textiles, particularly protective healthcare textiles, due to strong antioxidant (>97% as measured by the ABTS assay and >76% as measured by the DPPH assay) and antibacterial (>75% for E. coli and >80% for S. aureus) properties. The aronia pomace extract was also incorporated into newly synthesized starch/gelatin hydrogels with a compression modulus of 0.041–0.127 MPa and equilibrium swelling ratios of 3.33–4.26 g/g. Functionalized hydrogels demonstrated over 99% ABTS antioxidant activity, while the antibacterial efficacy against E. coli and S. aureus exceeded 70% and 97%, respectively. These properties, combined with the hydrogels’ ability to control the release of extract compounds, make them adequate for wound care applications. The extract’s effectiveness as a green inhibitor for carbon steel, with inhibition efficiency surpassing 94% at a concentration of aronia pomace extract of 100 ppm, was confirmed by electrochemical methods. Moreover, the extract predominantly retards the cathodic reaction. The current research represents the first exploration of alternative and green sustainable technologies for developing novel products based on aronia pomace extract.

Achieving the superior properties of nanocomposite materials involves addressing several challenges, particularly the agglomeration of nanoparticles in the plating bath. This study focuses on the electrodeposition and characterization of Zn-Co-CeO2 composite coatings using a particle-free plating bath, an effective strategy for mitigating agglomeration. For comparison, the composite coatings were also deposited from a traditional biphasic plating solution. The coatings were deposited galvanostatically at various current densities. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that using a particle-free plating solution in conjunction with lower current densities enhanced the compactness and the overall quality of the coatings. Lower current densities favoured the codeposition of particles, as indicated by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy results. Notably, the coatings produced from the particle-free bath exhibited significantly improved corrosion resistance and durability in chloride-rich environments, attributed to their self-healing properties, as shown by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

In this study, the inhibition efficiency (IE) of symmetrical bis(imino)pyridines (BIPs) used in corrosion protection for zinc and iron was investigated in 0.5 M NaCl (pH 3 and pH 7) and an acidic (1 M HCl) medium using linear polarization resistance (LPR) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Three derivatives, BIP-9, BIP-14 and BIP-16, exhibited the most relevant inhibition performance and acted as mixed-type corrosion inhibitors. In a neutral medium, BIP-16 exhibited the highest IE calculated from EIS, reaching 74.8% on iron and 61.2% on zinc. In 1 M HCl, the highest IE inhibition efficiency was obtained for BIP-9 on iron (93.7%), while BIP-16 and BIP-14 reached 78.8% and 75.1%, respectively. The IE increased with concentration up to an optimum value, while time- and temperature-dependent studies indicated partial loss of protection for individual inhibitor systems and improved long-term protection for the Ce(III) acetate + BIP-16 system, particularly on iron. The highest IE was observed at 25 °C, likely due to inhibitor desorption at higher temperatures. Ce(III) acetate also showed the highest IE for iron in 0.5 M NaCl at pH 3. Adsorption of inhibitors followed the Langmuir model, and calculated parameters indicated spontaneous adsorption with dominant physisorption. DFT calculations supported a medium-dependent inhibition mechanism. Environmental hazard assessment identified BIP-16 as the least hazardous compound with promising eco-friendly potential.

The extent of corrosion and the underlying causes of damage to the interior metal components of a one-year-old automobile from a known brand, owned by a rental car company in Serbia, were investigated. The vehicle?s interior, including upholstery and carpeting, showed no chemical spills or other damage. The solution obtained after rinsing a carpet sample from the car floor exhibited neutral pH. The corrosion behavior of the analyzed samples was determined using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), linear polarization resistance (LPR) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV, Tafel method). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses showed that corrosion products taken from corroded steel parts contain akaganeite ?-FeO(OH) and iron (II) chloride. FTIR analysis of the organic coating revealed that the applied epoxy layer was insufficiently crosslinked, making it permeable to moisture and chloride ions. Electrochemical corrosion measurements on steel with a similar chemical composition demonstrated an increased corrosion rate in a solution containing dissolved corrosion products compared to a reference solution. This accelerated corrosion was attributed to the acidity of akaganeite and iron (II) chloride, formed due to the vehicle?s exposure to a humid and chloride-rich environment.

This study evaluates the corrosion inhibition performance of α-pinene, β-pinene, and caryophyllene, constituents of black pine (Pinus nigra) essential oil, on carbon steel in 1 M HCl. At concentrations reflecting their natural abundance in 100 ppm essential oil, α-pinene (66.5 ppm) showed the highest efficiency among individual compounds (up to 94.99%), while β-pinene and caryophyllene exhibited lower efficiencies due to their minor natural content. At an identical concentration (80 ppm), caryophyllene displayed the highest inhibition efficiency after 4 h immersion (96.16%), exceeding α-pinene (92.46%), β-pinene (89.75%), and slightly surpassing the essential oil (95.26%). Electrochemical measurements revealed time-dependent enhancement of protection for all inhibitors. Potentiodynamic polarization indicated mixed-type inhibition with predominant cathodic control and a decrease in corrosion current density from 173.33 μA cm⁻² (blank) to 7.03 μA cm⁻² (caryophyllene). SEM confirmed reduced surface degradation in inhibited systems, while contact angle measurements showed increased hydrophobicity after prolonged exposure to caryophyllene, indicating formation of a stable adsorbed film. DFT calculations corroborated experimental trends, identifying caryophyllene as the most efficient inhibitor due to favorable electronic properties. The results highlight individual phytochemicals as promising sustainable corrosion inhibitors.