Removal of lead (II) from synthetic solution and industry wastewater using almond shell activated carbon

Pb (II) is extensively used by various industries and the wastewater generated is hazardous to the environment. In the present study, efficiency of a cheap adsorbent in the form of activated carbon, developed from waste biomass for the Pb (II) adsorption is investigated. With BET surface area 1133.25 m(2)/g and the pore volume 1.41 cm(3)/g, its adsorption capacity for Pb (II) was found to be 823.1 mg/g, at an initial pH of 6.0. The adsorption was best described by the Langmuir isotherm, suggesting monolayer adsorption and was favorable. The adsorption followed second order kinetics, indicating chemisorption of Pb (II), mainly by ion exchange. The adsorption was controlled by the intraparticle diffusion with significant contribution of the film diffusion. With 0.5 g/L of adsorbent dosage, complete removal of Pb (II) ions was achieved from battery industry wastewater, making it safe discharge in water bodies. (c) 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 36: 1628-1633, 2017