Adsorption behavior of Cu(II) from aqueous systems onto pyrolyzed banana peel (PBP) was studied via static and column mode studies. Low cost techniques were developed to convert banana peel (BP) to a high capacity adsorbent.  The PBP were characterized using TGA, FTIR, pH electrophoresis, surface area analysis, SEM, and XRD. Pyrolysis of dried BP formed a porous, large surface area adsorbent, that is strongly negative surface charged and increased the adsorption capacity of PB from 4.8 to 350 mg Cu(II)/g, which were higher than activated carbon, Calgon F-400.  Factorial DOE have shown that the pH of the solution was the most important factor affecting adsorption capacity. Freundlich's isotherm fitted the equilibrium and the degree of favorability of adsorption and capacity for Cu(II) were 1.25 and 351.1 mg/g for PBP.  Cu(II) removal followed pseudo-second order model. Fixed bed experiments were performed and, breakthrough curves were drawn by varying biochar bed height.

Sustainable and low cost approach for cleaning metal contaminated water using pyrolyzed banana peels biochars

248th National Meeting (2014)

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