Kinetic, equilibrium and thermodynamic studies for the sorption of metribuzin from aqueous solution using banana peels, an agro-based biomass

Abstract

Banana peels were employed for the removal of metribuzin from aqueous solution. Sorption in the batch mode was optimized regarding pH, contact time, sorbent dose, initial pesticide concentrations, and temperature. The sorption data were fitted to pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, intraparticle diffusion, Elovich, and liquid film diffusion model, the pseudo-second-order exhibiting best fit (R² = 0.9803). Of the four most common sorption isotherm models (Langmuir, Freundlich, Tempkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich), the data followed the Langmuir isotherm with highest correlation. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 167 mg g⁻¹. Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy showed that the sorption was exothermic and spontaneous.

Keywords:

• metribuzin
• banana peels
• isotherms
• kinetics
• thermodynamics

Acknowledgement

The authors highly acknowledge the support of University of Peshawar, Higher Education Commission, Pakistan and Government College University Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.