Biosorption Potentials of Modified Groundnut Shells adsorbents for Lead and Cadmium ion removal from Industrial Wastewater.

Abstract:

In Nigeria, water availability and sustainable clean water solutionS have been exacerbated by heavy metal pollution from municipal, industrial, and anthropogenic activities and is now a matter of global concern. Raw Bambara groundnut shell (RBGS) and Carbonized Bambara Groundnut Shell (CBGS) were modified from Bambara groundnut shell (BGS) and used as adsorbent for the bioremoval of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) ions from industrial wastewater effluent. Preliminary analyses, which include proximate analysis, SEM and FTIR were carried out on the modified BGS; results revealed that Bambara groundnut shells contain metallic and non-metallic compounds while SEM analysis showed that the surfaces of the RBGS and CBGS were rough before the adsorption process and smooth after the adsorption process. The FTIR spectroscopy_analysis detected the presence of different functional groups in the adsorbents which were responsible for the high performance of the formulated adsorbents. Adsorption studies investigated the effects of adsorbents dosage, wastewater pH and contact time and results revealed that 84.66% and 79.46% of Pb and Cd ions respectively were removed using RBGS adsorbent while 90.51% and 85.31% of Pb and Cd ions respectively were removed from the contaminated wastewater using CBGS. The optimum adsorption capacity occurred at 0.8g dosage, pH of 7, and 120 minutes contact time. Generally, equilibrium occurred within 90 minutes. It was observed in this study that the modified Bambara bio-adsorbents have the potential to be used as an alternative to conventional adsorbents applied in the treatment of industrial wastewater.