Removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewater using fruits peel as a low-cost bio-adsorbent

In order to remove heavy metal from industrial wastewater, the conventional treatment processes that usually been use have several disadvantages. Adsorption method is the alternative process to remove heavy metal. However, the cost of using activated carbon as an adsorbent is expensive. One of the recommended solutions is to use fruits peel as a bio-adsorbent. This study aims to determine the optimum capacity of banana, mango and orange peel as bio-adsorption in treating industrial wastewater. Besides that, it also aims to compare the effect of contact time, initial pH and temperature in the removal of heavy metals. Other than that, this study will analyze the batch adsorption study base on dosage, pH level, temperature and contact time. Langmuir adsorption model was used which is confirmed by a linear plot of Ce/qe against Ce. The results showed that optimum adsorption capacity for orange, banana and mango peel adsorbent is around 1.2gram, 0.8gram and 1.6gram respectively with the best pH level of 4 for orange and mango meanwhile pH 2 for banana. The temperature does not influence the efficiency of adsorption in the range of 29ºc until 49ºc and for the effect of contact time, the adsorbent absorbs rapidly at the first 20 min and gradually increase and remained stable after a few minutes. This study revealed that the best fruits peel that can be used as an adsorbent is orange peel as it can absorb many lead ions compare with the other two fruits peel