Effect of the operating variables on the adsorption of lead and chromium ions on plantain (Musa paradisiaca) wastes
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Date
2019-03-16
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Applied Sciences
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Industrial effluent often contain heavy metals which bio-accumulate and persist in the environment, thereby
constituting health problems. Plantain (Musa paradisiaca) wastes, which are nuisance to the environment could be used to produce
activated carbon that are of public health importance. This study assessed the effect of the operating variables on the adsorption of lead
and cadmium ions on plantain (Musa paradisiaca) wastes in effluent from battery recycling plant. Materials and Methods: Plantain
wastes were collected from a plantation, sun-dried, homogenized, carbonized and activated using phosphoric acid at 400EC to produce
the adsorbents. Composite samples of acid-lead battery recycling effluent from the point of discharge into Ogunpa river in Ibadan,
southwestern, Nigeria was subjected to physico-chemical (pH, conductivity, Total Dissolved (TDS)), (Lead (Pb) and Chromium (Cr))
analysis using standard methods. Adsorption capacity was studied at varied effects of pH (2-12) and adsorbent doses (0.1-2.0 g) with
treatments by activated carbon from plantain ripe peel, plantain stalk while commercial activated carbon served as control. Batch
experiment was used in determining the adsorption isotherms of the adsorbents. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics,
Langmuir and Freundlich models and compared with the national standards for industrial effluent. Results: Means of pH, conductivity,
TDS, Pb and Cr of the effluent sample were: 2.0±0.2, 2164.7±0.6 µs cmG1
, 895.0±0.0, 31.3±0.0 and 13.5±0.0 mg LG1
, respectively. The
highest quantities of Pb and Cr were removed at pH10 for Pb (94.97 and 68.02%). However, optimum dosage occurred at 1.5 g for Pb
(96.61%) and 2.0 g for Cr (58.91%). The adsorbents showed satisfactory fits to the adsorption isotherm models. Conclusion: Adsorbents
had ability to remove the lead and chromium from effluent generated from battery recycling plant with plantain ripe peel having the
highest adsorption capacity. Treatment of effluent with plantain wastes should be encouraged in battery recycling plant to promote
public health safety and enhance effective waste management.
Description
The geometric increase in the urbanization coupled with
industrialization has brought about the generation of wastes
different forms in the environment. These wastes have posed
a lot of threat to both man and the environment. Pollution is
the release of chemical, physical, biological or radioactive
contaminants exceeding the threshold limit which adversely
alter natural quality of the environment and consequently
constitute deleterious effects on living organisms1,2. Nigeria
is urbanizing at an astonishing pace with increasing
industrialization. Over 500 major processing industries are
concentrated in the urban centres such as Lagos,
Port-Harcourt, Sango Ota, Kaduna and Kano. It was observed
most of the industries found in Nigeria dump their waste in
their own backyard without concern for the environment,
hence, the cases of water pollution, which are found in most
of the major industrial cities of Nigeria. These wastes and their
leachates mixed with hazardous wastes and found their way
into the streams and rivers through network of open drains3
.
Wastewater containing high amount of heavy metals
originated from household and industrial wastes leads to
the production of the sewage sludge contaminated with
the metals of environmental concern where they may
contaminate soil, water and eventually also the food chain4
.
Heavy metals are of serious health implications because of
their persistence and bio-accumulation potential in the
environment and have ultimately had negative effects on
health and environment. They do not degrade or nor
destroyed, they generally do not breakdown into less
harmful constituents. As trace elements, some are essential to
maintain the metabolism of human body. However, at higher
concentrations they can lead to poisoning5
. Heavy metals
commonly found in wastewater are Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd),
Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni) and Zinc (Zn) and the
metal concentrations are governed by the nature and the
intensity of the industrial activity as well as the type of process
employed during the treatment6
Keywords
Citation
Adedotun Timothy Adeolu, Oladapo Titus Okareh, Henry Olawale Sawyerr and Olaniyi Afolabi Opasola, 2019. Effect of the operating variables on the adsorption of lead and chromium ions on plantain (Musa paradisiaca) wastes. J. Applied Sci., 19: 279-286.