Removal of Lead from Aqueous Solution Using Banana Peel as An Adsorbent

Abstract

This research was conducted to examine the use of banana peel as an adsorbent for the removal of lead from aqueous solution. The banana peel was washed with distilled water and dried under sunlight. The banana peels was blended and dried in oven at 105 ºC to remove excess moisture. The powdered banana peel was characterized before and after adsorption by using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) to determine the functional group present in banana peels. The functional groups observed are O-H stretching, CH stretching, C=C group and C-O group. Powder X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis was also conducted to determine the crystalline phase in banana peels. Batch adsorption test using a shaker at 200 rpm for 140 minutes, was performed to evaluate the sorption characteristics of powdered banana peels towards lead. The effects of contact time, pH and adsorbent dosage on the sorption of lead by powdered banana peel were evaluated. The highest percentage removal of lead ion from aqueous solution by banana peel powder was observed at pH 5 with adsorbent dosage of 1.4 g. The adsorption isotherm also was tested with Langmuir adsorption and Freundlich adsorption isotherm and the kinetic study was conducted by using pseudo-first order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. The adsorption results are well fitted to the Langmuir isotherm model with qmax was 1.364 mg g-1 and follow pseudo-second order kinetic model. The study shows that banana peel can be effectively used as potential adsorbent for the adsorption of lead from aqueous solution.