ISSN: 2410-9649 Ogundipe & Babarinde / Chemistry International 3(2) (2017) 135-149 iscientic.org. 135 www.bosaljournals/chemint/ editorci@bosaljournals.com Article type: Research article Article history: Received April 2016 Accepted July 2016 April 2017 Issue Keywords: Biosorption Plantain flower Cd(II) Pb(II) Zn(II) Kinetics Isotherm Thermodynamics The potential of plantain (Musa paradisiaca) flower to remove Cd(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II) from aqueous solutions has been investigated under different process parameters like pH, contact time, biomass dose and initial metal ion concentration. The optimum pH for the biosorption of each of the metal ions is pH 6. The kinetic data obtained were subjected to four kinetic models, among which the pseudo-second order kinetic model was found to be the best model that describes the biosorption of each of the metal ions. The equilibrium sorption data were fitted into Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and D-R isotherms. In each case, the Freundlich isotherm model gave the best fit giving the sorption intensity (n) values of 1.17, 0.91 and 0.90 which indicate favourable sorption of Cd(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II), respectively. The heat of the sorption process was estimated from Temkin Isotherm model and the mean free energy was estimated from D-R isotherm model to be 312.81Jmol -1 , 223.61Jmol -1 and 316.55Jmol -1 for Cd(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II), respectively. Thermodynamically, the biosorption of each of the metal ions is endothermic and the order of spontaneity of the biosorption process being Cd(II)>Zn(II)>Pb(II). Similarly, positive change in entropy was observed for each, the order of disorderliness is Cd(II)>Zn(II)=Pb(II). © 2017 International Scientific Organization: All rights reserved. Capsule Summary: Plantain flower was investigated for the sorption of Cd(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II), process variables were optimized, sorption data was subjected to kinetic and isotherm models, and thermodynamic studies were also performed. Results showed that plantain has high potential for the sorption of Cd(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II) and could possibly be used for treating wastewater containing these metal ions. Cite This Article As: Kemi Damilola Ogundipe and Adesola Babarinde. Comparative study on batch equilibrium biosorption of Cd(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) using plantain (Musa paradisiaca) flower: kinetics, isotherm, and thermodynamics. Chemistry International 3(2) (2017) 135-149. INTRODUCTION The contamination of the environment by heavy metals has received much attention worldwide recently. Waste water from industries represents the major source of heavy metals pollution of the environment. This is one of the most serious Chemistry International 3(2) (2017) 135-149 Comparative study on batch equilibrium biosorption of Cd(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) using plantain (Musa paradisiaca) flower: kinetics, isotherm, and thermodynamics Kemi Damilola Ogundipe and Adesola Babarinde* Department of Chemical Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria *Corresponding author’s E. mail: adesola.babarinde@oouagoiwoye.edu.ng ; Tel:+234-8037232934 ARTICLE INFO A B S T R A C T