REMOVAL OF METALS FROM ELECTROPLATING WASTES USING BANANA PITH

Banana pith (Musacea zingiberales) was evaluated for its ability to so rb metal ions from electroplating waste and synthetic solutions under both batch- and continuous-flow conditions. Sorption was both pH and c oncentration dependent with pH 4 . 5 being the optimum value. The equi librium data followed the Langmuir isotherm model with maximum capacit ies of 8 . 55 and 13 . 46 mg/g for Cu in electroplating waste and synt hetic solution respectively. Competitive studies showed that the affin ity of metal sorption was in the order Pb(II) > Cu(II) > Ni(II) > Cr(I II) > Zn(II). In the continuous-flow studies, breakthrough curves for Cu(II) and Ni(II) in the elctroplating waste were obtained at differen t bed depths and flow rates. Cu(II) was more satisfactorily sorbed on the banana pith than Ni(II).