CHARACTERIZATION OF BANANA AND ORANGE PEELS: BIOSORPTION MECHANISM

Abstract

Banana and orange peels can provide an efficient and cost-effective biosorbents for dyes, metals and organic pollutants removal from industrial water/wastewaters. Energy dispersive Atomic X-ray (EDAX), Spectrometry Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR) and thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis were used to characterize the surface of biosorbent. A better understanding of the chemistry behind these interactions can help in the preparation of commercial biosorbents using waste banana and orange peels. EDAX showed the presence of carbon, oxygen, sodium, aluminium, calcium, Magnesium, potassium, sodium, silica and other minor elements on the surface of peels. FTIR spectrometric results confirm that aliphatic group, carboxylic acid group etc on the surface of peels. The TG traces showed the loss of moisture and the evolution of some light weight molecules including water.