Multifunctional gum arabic and carboxymethyl cellulose modified silicon dots as corrosion and scale inhibitor in industrial circulating water systems

Traditional research on corrosion inhibitors has primarily focused on evaluating the inhibition performance, overlooking their additional potential functions. Gum arabic (GA), a natural polysaccharide derived from Acacia species, and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), a water-soluble anionic polymer, were employed as green stabilizing agents due to their abundant hydroxyl and carboxyl functional groups, which facilitate surface functionalization and enhance dispersibility. Herein, multifunctional hydroxylated and carboxylated silicon dots (HCSiDs) were prepared via employing GA and CMC as green stabilizing agents for enhanced corrosion and scale inhibition properties. Optical studies confirmed their fluorescence property, which enables real-time concentration monitoring via a linear calibration curve ( R 2  = 0.9987) in the 0–100 mg/L range. Corrosion studies demonstrated 93.3 % corrosion inhibition efficiency for Q235 steel in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution at 100 mg/L dosage. Scale inhibition studies demonstrated a 100 % rate of inhibition at 6.0 mg/L for CaSO 4 . The developed nanomaterial showcases promising applications for integrated monitoring and protection in industrial water circulation systems, bridging functional gaps in conventional corrosion inhibitor technologies.