Removal of Lead Ion from Industrial Effluent Using Plantain (Musa paradisiaca) Wastes

Introduction: Industrial effluent often contains heavy metals which bio-accumulate in biological systems and persist in the environment, thereby constituting public health problems. Plantain (Musa paradisiaca) wastes, which are easily available, could be used to produce resource materials such as activated carbon that are of economic importance.
Aims: This study assessed the use of plantain wastes for the removal of lead in effluent from battery recycling plant.
Methodology: Plantain wastes were collected from a plantation, sun-dried and ground. These were then carbonized and activated using industrial oven at 400oC. An Acid-Lead battery recycling plant in Ogunpa, Ibadan, Nigeria was purposively selected. Samples of effluent from the point of discharge into Ogunpa River (100 m from the residential area) were subjected to physico-chemical (pH, conductivity, Total Suspended Solid (TSS), and Lead (Pb)) analyses, using American Public Health Association methods. Batch experiment was adopted in determining the adsorption isotherms of the adsorbents, using Association of Official Analytical Chemist method at varied effects of pH (2 to 12) and adsorbent doses (0.1 to 2.0 g) with treatments of Plantain Peel Activated Carbon (PAC), Plantain Leaf Activated Carbon (LAC), Plantain Bract Activated Carbon (BAC), Plantain Stalk Activated Carbon (SAC) while Commercial Activated Carbon (CAC) served as control. Initial and final concentrations of Pb were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy.
Results: Means of pH, conductivity, TSS, and Pb of the effluent sample were: 2.0±0.2, 2164.7±0.6 µs/cm, 2001.7±25.2 mg/l, 31.3±0.0 mg/l. The highest quantities (94.97%) of Pb were removed at pH10. Optimum dosage of Pb occurred at 1.5 g.
Conclusion: Carbonized and activated plantain waste used as adsorbents had potentials for effectively removing lead from effluent generated from battery recycling plant. Treatment of effluent with plantain wastes should be encouraged in battery recycling plant for improved public health and safety status, and to enhance effective waste management.