Nagaland & Beijing varsities collab to turn apple leaves into metal corrosion shield

Guwahati: An international joint research team of two universities from Nagaland and Beijing has found a way to use waste apple leaves to protect metals from corrosiResearchers from Nagaland University and the University of Science and Technology Beijing showed that carbon quantum dots derived from discarded apple leaves can provide long-lasting, eco-friendly protection against metal corrosion — a common industrial problem.The India-China study reported up to 96.2% corrosion protection for copper using biomass-derived carbon quantum dots, presenting a sustainable alternative to conventional, often toxic, corrosion inhibitors used in infrastructure and manufacturing.The collaborative study was led by Prof. Ambrish Singh of Nagaland University and Prof. Yujie Qiang of the University of Science and Technology Beijing. The study found that the newly developed apple-leaf carbon quantum dots (ACDs) can suppress copper corrosion in acidic environments with an inhibition efficiency of 94% at low concentrations, rising to 96.2% over longer exposure periods. The researchers said these performance levels are highly promising for industrial applications where metals are routinely exposed to harsh chemical conditions.Prof. Singh, from the department of chemistry at Nagaland University and a visiting professor at the National University of Science and Technology Beijing, said biomass-derived inhibitors like apple-leaf ACDs could extend the service life of pipelines, storage tanks, and industrial equipment while reducing the environmental and health hazards linked to conventional chemicals. He said the end applications span 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,” he added.Beyond industrial benefits, the study also highlighted the value of waste-to-wealth approaches by converting agricultural residue into high-value functional nanomaterials. University officials said this research work supports circular economy models and could create income opportunities for farmers. The current results are based on laboratory-scale validation but the researchers are now ready to move towards pilot-scale testing and real-world deployment.Prof. Qiang of the National Centre for Materials Service Safety at the University of Science and Technology Beijing 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. These elements create multiple active sites that strongly adhere to metal surfaces. Electrochemical tests confirmed that the ACDs form a compact, stable protective film on copper, effectively blocking corrosive ion transfer.” “Advanced theoretical modelling further revealed that specific nitrogen-containing groups play a key role in anchoring the protective layer to the metal surface,” Qiang added.The findings were recently published in the Journal of Alloys and Compounds, a leading peer-reviewed journal.Prof. Jagadish Kumar Patnaik, vice-chancellor of Nagaland University, said, “Such innovations reinforce Nagaland University’s role in advancing green technologies for infrastructure and manufacturing sectors,” he said.