Banana Peels as Natural Filters for Heavy Metal Removal

Date:15 Apr 2011

Country: Brazil

Application

• Water purification: Banana peels can be used to filter heavy metals like lead and copper from contaminated water, offering an affordable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional filtration methods.

Description

Scientists from Brazil have discovered that banana peels can act as a natural filtration medium to remove heavy metals like lead and copper from water. The peels, rich in nitrogen, sulfur, and carboxylic acids, bind with the metals, offering an affordable and safe alternative to traditional filtration methods. The process requires no chemical modifications, and banana peel filters can be reused multiple times. This innovation presents a low-cost solution for water purification and effluent treatment.

Pathway Description:

The process used in this project involves mixing minced banana peels with a water-based solution containing heavy metals like lead and copper. The compounds in the banana peels, such as carboxylic acids, bind with the metals, effectively removing them from the solution. The filtration is achieved without any chemical modifications to the banana peels. The process demonstrated that banana peel filters can be reused multiple times without losing effectiveness.