Adsorption of lead (II) ions in aqueous solution using activated carbon from mango core (Mangifera indica L.)

An effective way to utilize agricultural waste is to convert it into the activated form, which has several uses, including water purification. With this objective, activated carbon derived from mango seeds (Mangifera indica L.) was used as an adsorbent to remove lead ions present in prepared aqueous solutions. The mango was washed, dried and had its core removed to be prepared as charcoal, through pyrolysis at 400 degrees C, followed by activation with H2SO4 1:1 (v/v) for 12 hours and washing the material to release the pores of the material. The adsorption process was carried out in batch, introducing 30 mL of Pb(II) solution 50 mg L-1 and a certain mass of charcoal into conical tubes with lids, subjected to orbital agitation. After the established time, the adsorbent was separated by filtration and the Pb(II) content remaining in the filtrate was determined using the FAAS. Studies showed a 90% removal in Pb(II) concentration. The proposed adsorbent proved to be efficient for removing Pb(II) in aqueous solutions, making its application viable in the treatment of aqueous chemical effluents.