Lemon Juice andMicrowave Assisted Modification of PotatoPeelHusk for Lead Biosorption: Batch andColumn Studies

The removal of heavymetals from water is very difficult. For this reason different methods havebeen employed so far among which biosorption is the cheapest andecofriendly way to treat andremove heavy metals from aqueous media. Present study, investigated the ability of potato peelhusk (PPH), potatopeel husk modified with lemon juice (LMPPH) and potato peel husk modifiedwith lemon juice & microwave (MLMPPH) for the removal of Pb (II) from water. Organicadsorbent was activated by lemon juice & microwave and was characterized by SEM, EDX andFTIR. Adsorption mechanism (batch parameters) and isothermal studies (Langmuir, Freundlich,Temkin isotherms) revealed the best fitness of Freundlich isotherm from the R2values indicatingphysisorption. Resultsof kinetic studies (pseudo first and second order and intraparticle diffusion)showed that reaction followedpseudo second order kinetics. Inthermodynamic study reaction wasexothermic(ΔHwasnegative).The ability of PPH, LMPPH and MLMPPH for removal of leadwas also investigated in column studies (bed height, flow rate, influent concentration).ThomasMorrison adsorption model described breakthrough data. Recent study proved that activation ofpotato peel husk with lemon juice and microwave (MLMPPH) not only increased the sorptioncapacity of sorbent muchmore as compared to PPH and LMPPH due to the introduction of excessCOOH groups with lemon juice but also their activation as COO-with microwave exposure.