Fabrication and characterization of mesoporous activated carbon from Lemna minor using one-step H3PO4 activation for Pb(II) removal

- Activated carbon was prepared from Lemna minor using H3PO4 activation.
- Materials have higher mesoporosity (92.2%) and more oxygen and nitrogen-containing functional groups.
- Materials can remove Pb(II) rapidly with monolayer adsorption capacity (170.9 mg/g).
- The adsorption process fitted to Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-first-order kinetic.
- Materials could be used as an economical, efficient adsorbent to remove Pb(II) ions.