ADSORPTION STUDIES OF PB2+ AND MN2+ IONS ON LOW-COST ADSORBENT: UNRIPE PLANTAIN (MUSA PARADISIACA) PEEL BIOMASS

The capacity of unripe plantain (Musa paradisiaca) peel biomass to remove heavy metals, Pb(II) and Mn(II) from aqueous solution of lead trioxonitrate (v), Pb (NO3)2 and potassium permanganate, (KMnO4) was investigated. Adsorption isotherms were determined by varying operating parameters such as effect of pH, initial concentration, adsorbent dose and contact time. Unripe plantain(Musa paradisiaca) peel was found to remove Pb and Mn ions in solution. Removal rate of Pb(II) and Mn(II) was found to increase steadily from pH 2 , however, Pb(II and Mn (II) removal decreases at pH 8. Langmuir and Freundlich models were applied to adsorption equilibrium data to find the best fitted amongst these models. Langmuir model type 1, with R2 = 0.9823 best fitted for Pb (II) adsorption data. The separation parameter, RL values were less than 1.0 i.e., 0.000903, 0.000451, 0.000225 and 0.000150 with corresponding initial concentrations of (50, 100, 200 and 300) mg/L respectively. This indicates that adsorption of Pb (II) ion on unripe plantain(Musa paradisiaca) peel biomass was favourable to Langmuir isotherm, while Freundlich model with R2 = 0.9585 best fitted Mn (II) ion with (n) value of 1.03, which was favourable adsorption. Thus, the results of these findings showed that unripe plantain (Musa paradisiaca) peel biomass could be effectively and efficiently utilized for the removal of Pb (II) and Mn (II) ions from aqueous solution.