Investigation of lead adsorption from synthetic effluents by modified activated carbon particles using the response surface methodology

Municipal and industrial effluents contain metal ions that can cause diseases due to disturbances in the body's metabolic and enzymatic processes. Given its simplicity and high efficiency, researchers have recently focused on adsorption using modified nanoadsorbents as one of the methods of removing heavy metals from effluents. In this study, a carbon nanostructure was first synthesized from common reed and modified with an amino acid. Based on screening in the Design Expert software, parameters affecting the adsorption process included pH, adsorbent dose, temperature, and contact time, respectively, which were optimized using the response surface methodology (RSM). The results showed that under optimal conditions, the maximum adsorption capacity was 126 mg lead per gram of adsorbent. Besides, the adsorption kinetic studies were performed using quasi-first-order and quasi-second-order models. The results showed that the quasi-second-order model, with a higher regression coefficient (R-2 = 0.9997), fit the experimental data better than the quasi-first-order model. The isothermal studies also indicated the good fit of the Langmuir model, with a coefficient of determination of 0.9996.

Automated summary

This study successfully removed heavy metals from effluents using synthesized and modified nanoadsorbents. The results showed a high adsorption capacity under optimized conditions, and the kinetic and isothermal studies demonstrated a good fit.