Purify contaminated water with banana peels

Mining has very negative effects on the environment for this we must find ecological solutions to deal with this problem.

In Brazil, Gustavo Castro, a researcher at the Institute of Biosciences in Botucatu, says that conventional methods are too expensive and certain substances such as lead, nickel, copper are toxic. Based on previous work, the researchers observed that peanut shells and coconut fibers are able to remove waste and toxins from the water. Through this, they wondered if the skin of the banana could have this purifying effect.

How did they do it?

• 1 / Gustavo Castro’s team of researchers have started to dry and crush banana peels.
• 2 / Then they combined them in flasks of water with concentrations of metals.
• 3 / They established water filters from banana peels and pushed the water through them.

Result of this study

In both scenarios, “the metal was removed from the water and remained bonded to the banana peels,” Castro said, adding that the extraction capacity of the banana peels exceeded that of other materials used to remove metals heavy. They were surprised to find that chopping the banana peel can remove lead and copper.
A banana peel purifier can be used up to 11 times without losing its metal bonding properties. .
Benefits of banana peel.

• low cost.
• they are found everywhere in supermarkets or specialized stores.
  100% organic (if you don’t put chemicals inside)
• It is more efficient than the filtering devices which already exist. Banana peels are extremely fibrous. By chopping them, the pores absorb metals.

Other researchers at the Institute of Science in Botucatu, Brazil, support the words of Gustavo Castro. They point out that banana peels can outperform conventional purifiers such as silica, aluminum oxide and cellulose. The team at the institute of science is based on work which shows that sugar cane, apple, nut fiber waste, peanut shells can clean up waste and toxins in water. All of these natural materials contain chemicals that have an affinity for metals.

This fantastic discovery could lead to water purification at a lower cost, without toxic product. Especially since many researchers specify that chopping the banana peel is more effective than other conventional purification materials.