Biosorption of copper and iron ions from Shinko drainage wastewater in Jimeta-Yola using orange peels

Abstract

Copper and Iron ions are considered to have effect on living things and the environment if the maximum permissible limit is exceeded. Adsorbents from petrochemicals are expensive and not environmentally friendly. There is the need in developing low cost and environmentally friendly biosorbent from agricultural waste materials for the removal of Copper and Iron ions in rivers, Lakes, and drainages.  Biosorption of Copper and Iron ions from Shinko Drainage wastewater in a batch process system using orange peels was investigated. The parametric factors affecting biosorption considered for the investigation include contact time and biosorbent dosage. The biosorbent was characterized using Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy. The maximum uptake of copper ions was evaluated to be 0.26 mg/g at contact time of 60 min and biosorbent dosage of 50 mg. Whereas, optimal uptake value of iron ions was recorded to be 0.27 mg/g at contact time range of 20-40 min and biosorbent dosage of 50 mg in the batch process system. The results illustrate that orange peels are efficient in bioremediation of Copper and Iron ions from Shinko Drainage wastewater in a batch process system as biosorbent. Models for uptake of Iron and Copper ions were both significant with same P-values of < 0.0001. Higher F-value of 120.28 was recorded for Iron ions to that of copper ions with lower F-value of 78.74 signifying better fitness of model for uptake of Iron ions by the orange peels. Coefficient of regression, and adjusted  were recorded as 0.9945 and 0.9863, respectively for Iron ions; Regarding, Copper ionsand adjusted were recorded as 0.9916 and 0.9790, respectively also confirm that uptake of Iron ions give better fitness to that of copper ions by the orange peels biosorbent.