Adsorption of Pb2+ from waste water using modified and unmodified plantain pseudo stem waste as adsorbent

This study was carried out to evaluate the potentials of plantain pseudo stem waste as adsorbent in the removal of Pb2+ from aqueous solution. Filament obtained from Plantain pseudo stem were dried, cut into chips and ground using electric grinder. The powdered sample obtained was soaked in ethanol for 24 hours and wash with water several times to remove the extractive component. It was then dried in the oven. Modification reaction was carried out on the powdered sample using Fenton reagent (Fe2+/H2O2). Both the modified and unmodified adsorbents were used for the adsorption of Pb2+ from aqueous solution. Factors considered were effect of contact time and effect of adsorbate (Pb2+) concentrations. The results revealed that in all the adsorption studies, the adsorption capacity of modified adsorbent was higher than that of the unmodified adsorbent. However, adsorption capacities increase with increase in contact time and decreases with increase in the adsorbate concentration.