Title:Model-based Application for Adsorption of Lead (II) from Aqueous
Solution using Low-cost Jute Stick Derived Activated Carbon
Volume: 18
Issue: 3
Author(s): Imran Rahman Chowdhury, Mohammad Abu Jafar Mazumder*, Shakhawat Chowdhury, Mohammed Ameen Ahmed Qasem and Md. Abdul Aziz
Affiliation:
- Chemistry Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran-31261,Saudi Arabia
Keywords:
Model development, model validation, carboxylated jute stick activated carbon, lead ion removal, adsorption, water treatment.
Abstract: Background: Removal of lead (II) ions from supply water using an inexpensive adsorbent
is essential. It is recommended that low-cost adsorbents are developed to effectively remove
lead (II) ions from aqueous solutions. The aim of the study was to develop and validate models
for predicting the performance of carboxylated jute stick derived activated carbon (JSAC-COOH)
in removing lead (II) ions from aqueous solution, which can assist the water supply authorities in
supplying lead (II) free drinking water to the communities at a low-cost.
Methods: Controlled laboratory experiments were conducted following the statistical “Design of
Experiments” through varying the factors affecting the performance of JSAC-COOH in removing
lead (II) ions. The performance of JSAC-COOH was investigated for different concentrations of
lead (II) ions (range: 50 - 500 mg/L) at variable experimental conditions (temperature: 15°C and
27°C; pH: 4.0 and 7.0) and time (1, 10, 30 and 60 min). Several models (Linear and non-linear)
were investigated and validated for predicting the concentrations of lead (II) ions in aqueous solution
Results: The prepared JSAC-COOH had a surface area of 615.3 m2/g. In 60 min, up to 99.8%
removal of lead (II) ions was achieved. Few models showed very good to excellent predictive capabilities
with coefficients of determination in the range of 0.85–0.95. The model validation experiments
showed the correlation coefficients in the range of 0.84 – 0.98.
Conclusion: The models have the capabilities to reasonably predict the final concentrations of
lead (II) ions, which can be used in controlling the effluent lead (II) ion concentrations. The proposed
adsorbent is likely to be low-cost as it was developed using the commonly available agricultural
by-product
