Removal of Lead and Cadmium from Aqueous Solutions by Banana Peel Biochar

Abstract

Heavy metals are ubiquitous environmental pollutants to influence on changing the different environmental compartments including air, water and soil. Due to the toxicity, persistence and bioavailability status, metal contamination is a serious issue for environment especially in terrestrial and aquatic systems. Biosorption of heavy metals is the physicochemical removal process of heavy ions or their compounds, from wastewater by using biosorbents. In this point of view, to remove lead and cadmium by eco-friendly manner banana peel biochar powder based biosorbents has been taken for the present investigation, and used Atomic Adsorption Spectrophotometer for metal estimation. Different electrochemical and biochemical characterizations such as pH, EC, CEC, particle size, zeta potential, organic carbon, crude protein, moisture content, dry matter, ash content and elemental composition of banana peel biochar was analyzed through standard methods. The SEM images determined that banana peel biochar contain irregular porous surface area, and also the FTIR peaks showed that banana peel biochar has C-H, =CHand C-Cl functional groups which has important role in adsorption of metals. The batch experiment was conducted to the effect of pH, metal ion concentration and contact time. The highest adsorption of Pb (83.45%) and Cd (89.87%) was observed at pH 7 and 75 ppm concentration, and the maximum adsorption of both elements recorded at 6 hours contact time. The banana peel biochar has high capacity of heavy metals adsorption from wastewater such as Pb (II) and Cd (II), but the adsorption efficiency of Cd was higher than Pb.