REMOVAL OF LEAD FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION BY ADSORPTION ON COCONUT COIR ACTIVATED CARBON

Activated carbon was prepared from coconut coir and adsorption of lead from
aqueous solution by the activated carbon was examined. Batch adsorption tests
showed that extent of lead adsorption was dependent on metal concentration, contact
time. p11 and carbon (lose. Adsorption was low at acidic pH and increased with pH.
Equilibrium adsorption was attained in 150 min and maximum adsorption occurred at
pl-f 5.0. Adsorption of lead by activated carbon füllowed pseudo-second-order
kinetics. Adsorption capacity of the activated carbon for adsorption of lead was
evaluated by batch equilibrium test and compared with that of' F-400 commercial
activated carbon. Coconut coin activated carbon showed higher adsorption capacity
for lead [3.63 (Freundlich) and 7.75 (Langmuir)] than that [1.87 (Freundlich) and
7.55 (Langmuir)] of the F-400 activated carbon. Coconut coir activated carbon is a
suitable substitute for commercial activated carbon in removal of lead from aqueous
solution.