Banana Peel as Removal Agent for Sulfide from Sulfur Springs Water

Abstract

Banana peel which consider as fruit waste has been tested  for the removal of total sulfide from spring water in Heet area, Iraq. The chemical composition of peels was investigated. The results  show that the composition consists of  Sodium ,Potassium, Calcium ,Manganese and Phosphate and concentrations of these contents were 18.2mg/g, 62mg/g,15.4mg/g ,48mg/g and 0.37 mg/g , respectively. The alkalinity of peels was 5.2 mg/g and the moisture content was 5.8 % . The treatment efficiency was studied as a function of the retention time and  concentration of sulfide ion .The maximum sorption for sulfide was found to be 97% and it was nearly effective as activated carbon. As a result of the removal process , the concentrations of  some common anions ,cations and heavy metals (Mg+2,Ca+2,Na+,So4-2,cl-Po4-2, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn) decreased ,the concentrations of K+ and Mn increased . Increasing of concentrations of K+ and Mn is attributed to their high content in the banana peels. A slight increase in pH of the treated water (6.5 – 7.5). This study revealed that  the treatment of water using the banana peel is most effective for removal of hydrogen sulfide from sulfur  spring water.

Keywords: Sulfide removal, banana peel, sorbent, peel mineral content ,sulfur, spring water