Adsorption of Arsenite from Aqueous Solutions Using Granola Modified Lemon Peel

The arsenite species is a common form of arsenic in nature and ground waters and is categorized as a major public health group. In the present study, the arsenite ions from contaminated solutions were removed by adsorption on the granola modified lemon peel. The arsenite adsorption on lemon peel was investigated by various concentrations of arsenite with 0.2 g/100 mL of adsorbent at a range of pH 3 - 10 and a constant temperature of 25°C for 0 to 240 minutes using batch experiments. Data of the adsorption experiment were analyzed by the pseudo-first and second- order kinetic equations. The Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models were used to understand the adsorption relationship between the arsenite ions and functional groups on the lemon peel. pH equal to 5.2 was recorded as pHzpc of this adsorbent in aqueous solution. The optimum condition was obtained at 60 minutes, pH value 8, and 2 mg/L of arsenite, with a removal efficiency of 88%. The maximum adsorption capacity of granola lemon peel was 27 mg.g-1 in Langmuir model. Lemon peel adsorbent presented good removal efficiency for arsenite in contaminated aqueous solutions and real water.