Adsorption of lead, (Pb) Using Activated Carbon Prepared from Coconut Coir

The main objective of the project is to study on the feasibility of the activated carbon
prepared from coconuts coir for lead removal. The removal of lead (Pb) using
coconut coir as a low-cost alternative natural bio-adsorbent from aqueous solutions is
investigated. For this project, both chemical and physical activation methods are used
to prepare and activate the activated carbon prepared from coconut coir. Then the
activated carbon is characterized using FTIR, SEM, TGA and XRD. Batch
adsorption kinetic studies show the adsorption of lead metal ions (Pb2+) is strongly
affected by initial solution pH, initial metal ion concentration and adsorbent doses. It
has been found that the amount of adsorption of lead increases with initial metal ion
concentration, contact time and solution pH but decreases with the amount of
adsorbent respectively. The adsorbent exhibited good sorption potential for lead at
pH 6. Freundlich isotherm adsorption equations reasonably describe the adsorption
isotherm within the metal ion concentration range. Perhaps coconut coir has the
potential to be used for the large scale separation of lead from wastewateR.