Abstract:
Hexavalent chromium, amongst others, is a globally environmental concern when eluded
beyond limited. This work was then focused on the removal of hexavalent Cr (VI) heavy
metal ion from wastewater using an adsorbent prepared from a banana peel. Banana peel
was activated using furnace at 450 °C, with 50% and for 2 hrs. BET, FTIR, SEM, and
TGA measurements were used to describe the activated banana peel. These
characterization results indicated that the activated banana peel has a good surface area of
200m
2
/g and porous surfaces that are main parameters for adsorption.
With contact time, pH, adsorbent dose, and initial concentration, the removal efficiency
was inspected. The adsorption process was adjusted, and it was discovered that a contact
time of 92 minutes, pH of 3, adsorbent dose of 1.5 g/L, and an initial concentration of 38
mg/L were the finest operating conditions for removing 94 percent Cr (VI). Adsorption
kinetics and isotherms were also studied. Pseudo first order with R-square of 0.996 and
Langmuir isotherm model with R-square of 0.997 were found to be the best models to
mathematically represent the rate and behavior of adsorption of Cr (VI) of the surface of
activated banana peel.
The reusability of the activated banana peel was tested and it was observed that it can be
used for 6 times before its removal efficiency declines below 70%. In addition of
synthetic wastewater, a real wastewater test has been made to see the efficacy of the
banana peel activated carbon. It was unfolded that the Cr(VI) chromium concentration of
the tannery wastewater reduced to standards set.
Keyword: Banana Peel, Activated Carbon, Adsorption, Optimization, Cr(VI)