Functionalized Activated Carbon Derived from Palm Kernel Shells for the Treatment of Simulated Heavy...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Chemistry

Background:

• Heavy metal contamination in water presents significant risks to ecosystems and human health.
• Activated carbon is a widely recognized adsorbent for water purification.
• Developing efficient adsorbents is crucial for addressing water pollution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize functionalized activated carbon (FAC) for heavy metal removal.
• To investigate and optimize adsorption parameters for FAC.
• To evaluate the adsorption performance of FAC for specific heavy metal ions.

Main Methods:

• Functionalized activated carbon (FAC) synthesized using nitric acid treatment.
• Material characterization via XRD, Raman, BET, FTIR, and FESEM.
• Heavy metal adsorption experiments optimized for pH, contact time, dosage, and concentration.

Main Results:

• FAC demonstrated efficient adsorption of Cr6+, Pb2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+ ions.
• Maximum adsorption was achieved at 90 minutes contact time.
• Adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model.
• Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms were analyzed to determine the best fit adsorption model.

Conclusions:

• Functionalized activated carbon is a promising adsorbent for removing multiple heavy metals from contaminated water.
• Optimization of adsorption parameters enhances the efficiency of FAC.
• The study provides insights into the adsorption mechanism and capacity of FAC for heavy metal remediation.