The inhibition mechanism of maize gluten meal extract as green inhibitor for steel in concrete via experimental and theoretical elucidation

The inhibition mechanism of maize gluten meal extract (MGME) for steel was systematically elucidated combining experimental analysis with theoretical calculation. It is revealed that the MGME and its main basic constituent are responsible for inhibition including Glu, Pro and Leu, their inhibition efficiency are 83.15% and 79.27%, respectively. The antagonistic effect between the main basic molecules of Glu, Pro and Leu in MGME and the barrier film formed on steel surface were verified by electrochemical measurement and XPS result, respectively. Besides the quantum chemical calculation and Monte Carlo simulation were used to clarify inhibition mechanism of co-adsorption.