Stage 2

Looking at the capability of banana peels to adsorb many types of metals, we tested the efficiency of banana peels with respect to time in the second stage of our research. We took the same sample of controlled contaminated water and placed the banana peels in it. When we tested the sample after 12 hours we found that banana peels adsorb moderate amount of heavy metals and after 24 hours peels adsorb maximum amount of heavy metals. No further considerable adsorption is observed after 36 hours. The same banana peels were then removed from this sample and used for another sample. This experiment was repeated 10 times and it was observed that the same kind of result was achieved. It primarily shows that banana peels are reusable and efficient as a water purifier successively for 10 times.

To assure consistency of results, the entire experiment was repeated thrice and an average result is presented. Simultaneously we have tried to maintain the same experimental conditions for all the experiments.

Banana has higher percentage of pectin than other peels which makes it adsorb more heavy metals. But even though, lemon has higher percentage of pectin, it is ineffective as such a large percentage of pectin in it also makes it vulnerable to water contents in the atmosphere resulting in fungus. Banana peel, we thus realized is ideal!

The next step for the team was to somehow inculcate our researched solution into the daily lives of the common man which we then set out to do.