Sorption Equilibrium and Kinetics of Oil from Aqueous Solution Using Banana Pseudostem Fibers

This study describes the ability of banana pseudostem fibers as an alternative adsorbent for the removal of oil from synthetic oily wastewater. A detailed batch study with respect to its adsorption equilibrium, isotherm and kinetics were carried out at ambient temperature, various initial concentration of oil and agitation time. The batch study clearly shows that banana pseudostem fibers exhibit almost 100% adsorption at lower concentration of oil. Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption model were applied to describe the experimental isotherm and isotherm constants. Equilibrium data fitted well with Freundlich model. The kinetic data were best fitted to pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The result showed that this low-cost adsorbent had a high adsorption capacity, making it suitable for the oily wastewater treatment.