REUSE OF CITRULLUS LANATUS PEEL AS BIOSORBENT TO REMOVE ALUMINUM IN AQUEOUS PHASE

This work presents experimental results for the removal of aluminium from aqueous solutions. Aluminium adsorption from solutions in the range of pH 2 to 3.5 on Citrullus lanatus was compared to biomasses that were conditioned with boiling or acidic pretreatments. The adsorption isotherms and the effects of different variables such as the treatment of the biomass, pH, metal concentration and reaction time on the aluminium removal efficiency were determined. Up to 90% removal of Al (III) was achieved. The adsorbent materials were characterised with scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy before and after they came in contact with the aqueous aluminium solutions. Finally, the capacity of the Citrullus lanatus for adsorption of aluminium was described adequately by the Freundlich isotherm adsorption.