Assessment of the Feasibility of Using Banana Peel and Banana Tree Heart as Biosorbents for Contaminant Removal in a Lake in Siderópolis, SC, Brazil

Abstract

The use of biosorbents for effluent treatment is relatively new in the scientific field, and advancements in this research area show promising results. Thus, this article aims to analyze the feasibility of using banana peel and banana plant heart (pseudostem) to adsorb metals such as iron and manganese from a lagoon impacted by human activity—Lagoa Azul, located in the municipality of Siderópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil. The results were satisfactory regarding total iron adsorption, reducing it to one-third of the initial value. However, the manganese load increased by 89.65%, revealing that the biosorbent is rich in this metal. Similarly, water color and turbidity became obstacles when using the adsorbent material alone. For future studies, it is suggested to modify the thermal treatment process, as well as the contact time between the solution and the biosorbent, in addition to testing other types of adsorbents combined with the process.