EFFECT OF ORANGE PEEL, WATERMELON PEEL, AND THEIR SYNERGISTIC EFFECT ON THE REMOVAL OF HEAVY METALS FROM DYE WASTEWATER
EFFECT OF ORANGE PEEL, WATERMELON PEEL, AND THEIR SYNERGISTIC EFFECT ON THE REMOVAL OF HEAVY METALS FROM DYE WASTEWATER
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Date
2021
Authors
BABA-MAI ALI, ZAINAB
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Abstract
Modernization of our surrounding has resulted to widespread pollutants being disposed amidst
which are heavy metals into the surroundings. Heavy metals are toxic to both human health and
the environment even at low concentrations. Biosorption studies is considered as a method for
the removal of heavy metals from dye wastewater due to its simple design, specific affinity, low
cost, effectiveness, reduced chemical and biological sludge, no further nutrient requirement,
revitalization of biosorbent, and potentiality of metal recovery. This research investigated the
feasibility of using orange peel (OP) and watermelon peel (WP) and their combination (CP) as
biosorbents for the removal of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) metal ions from dye
wastewater. The analysis was performed to study the effects of time, biosorbent dosage and
initial pH of the biosorbents on the removal efficiency of the heavy metals, an ANOVA analysis,
adsorption kinetics and isotherm modelling were also used. The materials were obtained and
prepared in a laboratory where 2.0g of the adsorbent was equilibrated with 50 ml of the dye.
From the study, OP had the highest adsorption efficiency for Hg at 96.9%, Cd at 88.8% and Pb at
93.1% in relation to time; OP had the highest adsorption efficiency for Hg at 93.4% and Cd at
98.9% while WP had the highest adsorption efficiency for Pb at 91.4% in relation to dosage. For
pH variations the equilibrium was achieved around wastewater pH levels of 6.8-7.7 for the
sorption of all metal ions by using all adsorbents. Ranking the adsorption ability of the measured
metal ions, the following series was obtained: for OP, ; for WP,
the ranking was , and for the CP it‘s
The research shows that both biosorbents can be used to
perform metal ions adsorption successfully, they proved to have high adsorption capacities and
appeared to have a universal application for adsorption of the metal ions. The research showed
the adsorption of metal ions is dependent on contact time, biosorbent dosage and pH. Using the
three adsorbents at respective time duration, Cd adsorption was found to be the most effective,
with Fischer (F) and Probability (P) values of 13802.04 and 3.2 x 10-29 respectively. Similarly, at
respective weight variation, Cd adsorption was also found to be the most effective, with F and P
values of 9262.98 and 5.5 x 10-15 respectively. While, at pH levels, Hg adsorption was found to
be the most effective, with F and P values of 201.31 and 1.41 x 10-14 respectively. This research
also showed that the adsorption kinetics modelling studies for the biosorbent dosage followed the
first order kinetic models. The isotherm equilibrium studies confirmed that Freundlich adsorption
isotherms well fitted models and revealed that adsorption of metals ions is multi-layer and
heterogenous. The results from the research indicated that the process used to adsorb metal ions
from wastewater has a possible application for a proper plant design.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER’S DEGREE IN WATER
RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING,
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA, NIGERIA