Removal of Reactive Black 5 Dye by Banana Peel Biochar and Evaluation of Its Phytotoxicity on Tomato

Removal of Reactive Black 5 (RB5) dye from an aqueous solution was studied by its adsorption on banana peel biochars (BPBs). The factors affecting RB5 dye adsorption such as pH, exposure time, RB5 dye concentration, adsorbent dose, particle size and temperature were investigated. Maximum 97% RB5 dye removal was obtained at pH 3 with 75 mg/L adsorbate concentration by banana peel biochars. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the adsorbent material. The data of equilibrium were analyzed by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The experimental results were best reflected by Langmuir isotherm with maximum 7.58 mg/g adsorption capacity. Kinetic parameters were explored and pseudo-second order was found suitable which reflected that rate of adsorption was controlled by physisorption. Thermodynamic variables exhibited that the sorption process was feasible, spontaneous, and exothermic in nature. Banana peel biochar showed excellent regeneration efficiency up to five cycles of successive adsorption-desorption. Banana peel biochar maintained >38% sorption potential of RB5 dye even after five cycles of adsorption-desorption. The phytotoxic study exhibited the benign nature of BPB-treated RB5 dye on tomato seeds.

Automated summary

The study shows that banana peel biochars have high removal efficiency and regeneration capacity for RB5 dye, and are non-toxic to plant seeds.