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Sains Malaysiana 55(9)(2026): 1487-1497
http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2026-5509-07
Evaluating Chitosan-Modified Banana Peel
Biochar (CMBC) for Removing Heavy Metals from Landfill Leachate
(Menilai Biochar Kulit Pisang Terubah Suai Kitosan (CMBC) untuk Menyingkirkan Logam Berat daripadaLarut Lesap Tapak Pelupusan)
CHAN VI SUN,
HARLINA AHMAD*, SANTHANA KRISHNAN & SITI NORABIATULAIFFA MOHD YAMEN
Environmental
Technology Division, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia
Received:
3 November 2025/Accepted: 25 August 2026
*Corresponding author; email: harlinaa@usm.my
Abstract
Heavy
metals in landfill leachate are persistent contaminants that can threaten
aquatic ecosystems and human health. This study evaluated chitosan-modified
banana peel biochar (CMBC) for the removal of heavy metals from actual landfill
leachate collected from the Pulau Burung Sanitary Landfill, Malaysia. Banana peel biochar was produced by hydrothermal
carbonization and modified with chitosan at biochar-to-chitosan ratios of 10:0,
8:2, 6:4, 4:6, 2:8, and 0:10. The effects of composition and contact time on metal
removal were assessed, while SEM and FTIR were used to examine surface
morphology and functional groups. The 8:2 formulation (S2-CMBC) gave the
highest removal after 120 min, achieving 100% Zn, 66.2% Fe, 45.8% Pb, and 33.9%
Ni removal. For Pb, nonlinear kinetic fitting indicated that the
pseudo-first-order model provided a better empirical fit (R² = 0.933; RMSE =
1.64 × 10⁻⁴ mg g⁻¹) than the pseudo-second-order model (R² =
0.870; RMSE = 2.28 × 10⁻⁴ mg g⁻¹), although the limited
number of sampling times warrants cautious interpretation. Treated leachate met
the Malaysian discharge limits for Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, and Zn under the tested
conditions, whereas As and Cr remained above the permissible limits. These
findings demonstrate the potential of CMBC as an agricultural-waste-derived
adsorbent for landfill leachate treatment while indicating that an additional
polishing step is required for complete regulatory compliance.
Keywords: Banana peel;
biochar; chitosan; heavy metals; landfill leachate
Abstrak
Logam berat dalam larut lesap tapak pelupusan merupakan bahan pencemar tegar yang boleh menjejaskan ekosistem akuatik dan kesihatan manusia. Kajian ini menilai biochar kulit pisang terubah suai kitosan (CMBC) untuk penyingkiran logam berat daripada larut lesap sebenar yang diperoleh daripada Tapak Pelupusan Sanitari Pulau Burung, Malaysia. Biochar kulit pisang dihasilkan melalui pengkarbonan hidrotermal dan diubah suai dengan kitosan pada nisbah biochar:kitosan 10:0, 8:2, 6:4, 4:6, 2:8 dan 0:10. Kesan komposisi dan masa sentuhan terhadap penyingkiran logam dinilai, manakala SEM dan FTIR digunakan untuk meneliti morfologi permukaan dan kumpulan berfungsi. Formulasi 8:2 (S2-CMBC) memberikan penyingkiran tertinggi selepas 120 min, iaitu 100% bagi Zn, 66.2% bagi Fe, 45.8% bagi Pb dan 33.9% bagi Ni. Bagi Pb, pemadanan kinetik tak linear menunjukkan bahawa model pseudo-tertib-pertama memberikan padanan empirikal yang lebih baik (R² = 0.933; RMSE = 1.64 × 10⁻⁴ mg
g⁻¹) berbanding model pseudo-tertib-kedua (R² = 0.870; RMSE =
2.28 × 10⁻⁴ mg g⁻¹), namun bilangan masa pensampelan yang terhad memerlukan tafsiran berhati-hati. Larut lesap terawat memenuhi had pelepasan Malaysia bagi Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb dan Zn di bawah keadaan kajian, manakala As dan Cr masih melebihi had yang dibenarkan. Keputusan ini menunjukkan potensi CMBC sebagai bahan penjerap berasaskan sisa pertanian untuk rawatan larut lesap tapak pelupusan dengan keperluan langkah penggilapan tambahan bagi mencapai pematuhan peraturan sepenuhnya.
Kata kunci: Biochar; kitosan; kulit pisang; larut lesap tapak pelupusan; logam berat
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