Removal of Pb(II) from aqueous solutions using activated carbon from Sea-buckthorn stones by chemical activation

Two series of activated carbon have been prepared by chemical activation of Sea-buckthorn stones with phosphoric acid and zinc chloride for the removal of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solutions. To characterize the adsorptive characteristics of produced active carbon, surface area was calculated using the standard Brunauer-Emmet-Teller method. The microstructures of the resultant activated carbon were observed by scanning electron micrographs. Chemical characterization of the surface resultant activated carbon was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The effect of pH, initial concentration and contact time on the adsorption was studied in a batch process mode. The data were fitted with the Langmuir and Freundlich equations to describe the equilibrium isotherms. The maximum adsorption capacity of Pb(II) on the resultant activated carbons was 51.81 mg g−1 with H3PO4 and 25.91 mg g−1 with ZnCl2. To regenerate the spent adsorbents, desorption experiments were performed using 0.25 mol L−1 HCl. Here, it was proposed that the produced activated carbons from Amygdalus scoparia shell were an alternative low-cost adsorbent for adsorption Pb(II).