Characterization of both banana peel and watermelon peel as natural biosorbent agents of iron in aqueous solution

Abstract EN

The removal of iron (III) from aqueous solutions was studied using dried banana peel (Bp) and watermelon peel (Wp) as biosorbents.

The biosorbents were characterized through the proximate contents of moisture (Bp 3.44% Wp 3.45%), protein (9.2% Bp, 14.25% Wp), fats (Bp 1.78% Wp 1.33%), fiber (36.89% Bp, 33.58% Wp), ash (Bp 21.36% Wp 15.86%) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Variable parameters such sorbent dosage (0.1, 0.25, 0.5–2 g/100 ml), and initial concentration of iron (III) (1000, 500, 100 and 50 ppm) and there remediation effects were investigated.

Under optimum conditions, Bp showed the highest sorption efficiency i.e., 66.5% for 2% while Wp amounted 55.1% for 0.1%.

Under optimum conditions the concentration of 100 ppm showed the highest sorption efficiency which was 56.07% for Bp and 61.1% for Wp at the mean of doses.

The results showed that natural dried banana peel and watermelon peel were effective sorbents for removal of iron (III) from aqueous solutions