Nagaland University research makes green corrosion inhibitor

Researchers from Nagaland University and University of Science and Technology Beijing have demonstrated that carbon quantum dots derived from discarded apple leaves can deliver long-lasting, eco-friendly protection against metal corrosion, a persistent global industrial challenge.
The Research highlighted a sustainable alternative to conventional, often toxic, corrosion inhibitors used across infrastructure and manufacturing sectors.
The collaborative study, led by Prof. Ambrish Singh of NU and Prof. Yujie Qiang of the University of Science and Technology Beijing, showed that the newly developed apple-leaf carbon quantum dots (ACDs) can suppress copper corrosion in acidic environments with an inhibition efficiency of 94.0 per cent at low concentrations, improving to 96.2 per cent over longer exposure periods.
Such performance levels are considered highly promising for real-world industrial applications where metals are routinely exposed to harsh chemical conditions.
The findings were published in Journal of Alloys and Compounds, a leading peer-reviewed journal publishing research on the synthesis, structure, properties and applications of metallic alloys and advanced compounds.
Congratulating the researchers, NU vice-chancellor, Prof. Jagadish Kumar Patnaik said NU-led international research team demonstrated how apple-leaf waste could be transformed into an eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor with up to 96.2% protection for copper.
“This Indo-China collaboration exemplifies our commitment to sustainable, high-impact science that addresses real-world challenges while reducing reliance on toxic chemicals,” Prof. JK Patnaik said. He also asserted that such innovations reinforce Nagaland University’s role in advancing green technologies for infrastructure and manufacturing sectors.”
Beyond industrial benefits, the study also underscores the value of waste-to-wealth approaches.
By transforming agricultural residue into high-value functional nanomaterials, the work supports circular economy models and offers potential income avenues for farming communities.
Elaborating on the applications of the research, Prof. Ambrish Singh, who is also a Visiting Professor at National University of Science and Technology Beijing, said that the end applications of the research spanned several critical sectors.
“In industries such as oil and gas, chemical processing, power generation and wastewater treatment, acidic environments accelerate corrosion, driving up maintenance costs and safety risks. Biomass-derived inhibitors like apple-leaf ACDs could significantly extend the service life of pipelines, storage tanks and industrial equipment while reducing environmental and health hazards associated with conventional chemicals,” Prof. Singh said.
Speaking about research, Prof. Yujie Qiang, said, “Using a green hydrothermal process, our research team converted apple leaves, an abundant agricultural waste, into nanoscale carbon particles doped with sulfur and nitrogen.”
While the current results are based on laboratory-scale validation, the researchers plan to advance toward pilot-scale testing and real-world deployment, including integration with existing protective coatings.