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ARTICLE TYPE : RESEARCH ARTICLE

Published on :   20 Oct 2025, Volume - 1
Journal Title :   WebLog Journal of Analytical and Pharmaceutical Chemistry | WebLog J Anal Pharm Chem
Source URL:   weblog iconhttps://weblogoa.com/articles/wjapc.2025.j2001
Permanent Identifier (DOI) :  doi iconhttps://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17411485

Removal of Zinc Ion (Zn2+) From Aqueous Solution Using Watermelon Rind (Citrillus Lanatus)

Moronkola Bridget Adekemi 1 *
Alegbe Monday John 1
Oyewole Toyib 1
Onifade Olayinka Omoniyi 2
Idris Oluseun Kehinde 1
Ejoh Augustine Orisejerioma 1
Dosunmu Olufemi Micheal 1
Akinsanya Nurudeen Akinwale 3
Felix Boluwatife Blessing 1
1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos State, South West Nigeria
2Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria
3Department of Chemical Sciences, Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos State, South West Nigeria

Abstract

Metals such as Zinc (Zn) have been released into the atmosphere due to rapid industrial development. In this study, dry watermelon rind was used as a low-cost adsorbent to assess the removal of Zinc ions (Zn2+) from aqueous media. Watermelon rind was characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). According to the qualitative analysis, SEM shows a distinctly porous structure with significant surface area, for ideal adsorption processes, the EDX spectrum shows that the adsorbent mainly consists of light elements, with notable peaks for carbon, oxygen and nitrogen which together confirm its carbonaceous and oxygen-rich structure, the XRD was used to study the chemical composition of the watermelon rind before adsorption, at 20Ɵ the watermelon shows 160 I cal (au). TGA shows that the watermelon rind was stable at 300˚C and as temperature increases there was degradation in weight %. FTIR analysis provided insights into the functional groups responsible for adsorption. A broad peak at 3200 cm -1 corresponds to O-H stretching vibrations, indicating hydroxyl groups that aids in metal binding, the peak at 2900 cm -1 reflects C-H stretching vibrations from aliphatic hydrocarbons enhancing surface interactions, A strong absorption at 1800 cm -1 corresponds to C=O, the carbonyl groups which contributes to metal ion complexation. The optimization of the dosage was studied between 0.5 g and 2.5 g and it shows that the optimum dosage was at 1.5 g achieving a maximum zinc removal efficiency of 88.09%. The optimization of the pH was studied between 2 and 10. In conclusion, watermelon rind shows strong potential as an effective, sustainable and affordable biosorbent for the removal of heavy metals such as zinc from contaminated water sources.

Keywords: Zinc Ion; Citrillus Lanatus; Watermelon Rind

Citation

Bridget Adekemi M, Monday John A, Toyib O, Olayinka Omoniyi O, Oluseun Kehinde I, Augustine Orisejerioma E, et al. Removal of Zinc Ion (Zn2+) From Aqueous Solution Using Watermelon Rind (Citrillus Lanatus). WebLog J Anal Pharm Chem. wjapc.2025.j2001. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17411485
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