Removal of Basic Blue 159 from Aqueous Solution Using Banana Peel as a Low-Cost Adsorbent

Abstract

In this paper, the adsorption of Basic Blue159 (BB159) onto banana peel as a low-cost material was studied. At first, the banana peel was sieved. Later, banana peel particles were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) techniques. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out as a function of pH, contact time, initial dye concentration, the mass of adsorbent and mixing speed. Batch adsorption models, based on the assumption of the Pseudo-first-order, Pseudo-second-order, Elovich and Intraparticle diffusion mechanism, showed that kinetic data follow closely the pseudo-second-order model. Results indicate that banana peel could be used as an adsorbent to remove the cationic dyes from contaminated watercourses.