Enhanced Adsorption of Reactive Dye using Cationic Surfactant-Modified Banana Stem by Batch Studies

Abstract

Researchers have discovered the exceptional efficacy of banana stems as adsorbent materials, particularly in removing heavy metals and dyes. This has led to a growing trend of reusing banana stems due to their abundant availability and effective removal of water-soluble pollutants. However, previous research has mainly focused on raw banana stems and other modification techniques, neglecting the potential benefits of modifying the banana stem surface using a cationic surfactant. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of banana stems treated with the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as an adsorbent for removing Reactive Orange 16 (RO16) dye from aqueous solutions. The objective is to enhance the adsorbent's capacity and performance compared to untreated banana stems.