Radionuclides contamination of food and fruits due to activities of natural and artificial sources leading to detrimental health effect necessitated the development of adsorbent to curb these nuclides from consumed food and fruits. This study compared the adsorption efficiency of Moringa oleifera husks and Cocos nucifera L. shells as adsorbents for the adsorption of radionuclides present in selected edible fruit samples obtained within Kaduna metropolis. Five fruit samples of different species were analyzed using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) spectroscopy for both the adsorption efficiency and concentration of radionuclides. Fourier Transfer Infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were also used to elucidate the structure and the functional group of the adsorbents respectively. Forty-five (45) nuclides were found in the fruit samples which include orange, banana, and pawpaw of three (3) different species, besides pears and mango of two species each. The nuclides of interest were 40K, 106Ru, 162Dy, 173Yb, 186Re, 196Au, 207Pb, 208Bi and 232Th with the mean concentration ranging from 40K 0.20±0.35 to 1.97±1.76; 101Ru 4.10±7.10 to 31.33±0.71; 162Dy 0.47±0.03 to 1.07±1.15; 173Yb 0.27±0.46 to 2.47±2.14; 186Re 0.40±0.69 to 1.67±0.32; 196Au 0.63±0.57 to 1.73±3.00; 207Pb 0.39±0.55 to 2.83±1.57; 208Bi 0.77±1.33 to1.28±1.48 and 232Th 0.00±0.00 to 2.72±1.74 to 8.00±13.86 all in Bq/kg. The highest mean concentration of radionuclide of interest was found in 106Ru with the value 4.10±7.10. Uranium, a naturally occurring radionuclides was not detected in any of the samples while Potassium and Thorium were found in Banana and Pawpaw respectively. Adsorption capacity and removal range of 97.39 to 100 % and 45 to 100% were observed for Moringa husk and Coconut shell respectively. These adsorption capacities showed that Moringa oleifera husk is a better adsorbent compared to Cocos nucifera L. shell.

Keywords: Oxidative Carbon - Carbon Bond Formation; Nitromethane; Functionalization