Obtención de un concentrado de potasio a partir de la musa paradisiaca por dos métodos químicos

Abstract

In Ecuador, around fourteen thousand tons of garbage is generated annually, consisting of organic and inorganic waste that, when mixed, produces leachate that pollutes the environment. The problem was attributed to poor waste management in Riobamba, Ecuador, especially organic waste such as banana peels. The main objective of the research was to obtain a potassium concentrate from the banana peel of the paradisiacal muse type using two extraction methods: bio-fermentation, which uses microorganisms to break down organic matter and release potassium, and dehydration with maceration, which involves the removal of water and the extraction of compounds with alcohol. A physicochemical characterization of the raw material was conducted to evaluate its suitability in obtaining potassium concentrate, analyzing its pH, ash, moisture, and potassium content in the banana peel, with an average of 5.77%. Both extraction methods successfully obtained the potassium concentrate, especially the bio-fermentation method. The characterization of the potassium concentrate was performed using techniques such as atomic absorption spectrometry and emission photometry to analyze its quality. Finally, both methods were practical to obtain potassium concentrate from banana peels. This concentrate showed a high potential as an agricultural fertilizer, thus allowing to take advantage of organic banana waste to get potassium, improving waste management and reducing environmental pollution.