Full Length Research Paper

Removal of some metal ions from aqueous solution using orange mesocarp

Regina E. Ogali¹*, Onyewuchi Akaranta¹ and Vivian O. Aririguzo²

¹Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

² Department of Industrial Chemistry, Madonna University, Elele Campus, P.M.B. 5, Elele, Rivers State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: reogali@yahoo.com.

Accepted 23 July, 2008

In this study, the use of orange mesocarp residue biomass (modified and unmodified) as a cost-effective and environmentally safe technique to remove Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺ from aqueous solution was investigated. The results showed that unmodified orange mesocarp residue bound 56% of Mg²⁺, 81% of Zn²⁺, 71% of Cu²⁺, 73% of Pb²⁺, and 85.05% of Cd²⁺. In the case of modified orange mesocarp residue, it was able to bind the following amount of metal ions: 63.05% of Mg²⁺, 37.0% of Zn²⁺, 43.25% of Cu²⁺, 33.05% of Pb²⁺ and 86.45% of Cd²⁺. These results show that orange mesocarp residue biomass can be effectively used to adsorb heavy metals from aqueous solution.

Key words: Orange mesocarp, heavy metals, adsorption, biomass.