Kinetic, Isotherm and Thermodynamic Studies of Chemically‐Treated <scp> <i>Musa paradisiaca</i> </scp> Peels for Cu( <scp>II</scp> ) and Pb( <scp>II</scp> ) Removal From Synthetic Solution and Its Application in Adsorption Column Using Produced Water

ABSTRACT Lead and copper ions availability in industrial wastewater is inevitable as a result of the revolutionized industrialization. Therefore, an ecofriendly and sustainable technique of eliminating these hazardous metal ions from polluted water is vital to conserve water and reuse it for domestic purposes. This study chemically modified Musa paradisiaca peels (MPPHN) via soaking in sulfuric acid, neutralization with sodium hydroxide, and subsequent filtration. This was used as an adsorbent for the elimination of lead and copper ions from aqueous solution. The design of the experiment for the batch adsorption process was achieved using the Taguchi Orthogonal Array. Fourier‐transform‐infrared, scanning electron microscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller were conducted for raw and modified M. paradisiaca peels. Experimental data fitted excellently into Langmuir and pseudo‐second order kinetic models. Adsorption of both metal ions was endothermic, while copper adsorption by MPPHN occurred spontaneously. Morphological, size distribution, and functional group characteristics of MPPHN were better after the chemical modification. Breakthrough curves revealed an increase in the exhaustion time and effluent volume as the adsorbent bed depth was increased, while the breakthrough occurred faster at high feed flow rate within 200 min in both cases of Pb 2+ and Cu 2+ removal from produced water in the adsorption column using MPPHN. The influence of pH revealed the point of zero charge (pH PZC ) to be 5.12. The regenerated adsorbent reduced the percentage removal of Pb 2+ and Cu 2+ from 93.50% and 90.22% to 87.11% and 85.08%, respectively, after five consecutive cycles. Adsorbent prepared via M. paradisiaca peels modification could effectively remove copper and lead from aqueous solution.