Characterization and use of activated carbon synthesized from sunflower seed shell in the removal of Pb(II), Cd(II), and Cr(III) ions from aqueous solution

Abstract

In this work, carbon-based nanomaterials such as active carbon which is prepared from com mon sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seed shell, and the characterization of the activated carbon NPs were studied using FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spec troscopy), XRD, SEM, EDS, and DTA techniques. Activated carbon NPs have been used in the adsorp tion of Pb(II), Cd(II), and Cr(III) ions from the aque ous phase. The results showed the highest adsorption efficiency was 99.9%, 92.45%, and 98% for Pb(II), Cd(II), and Cr(III) ions respectively at a tempera ture of 25 °C, pH = 7–9, and a time of 60 and 180 min, in addition to the accordance of the adsorption models for activated carbon with the Freundlich iso therm model at the value of R2 (0.9976, 0.9756, and 0.9907) and Langmuir isotherm model (0.966, 0.999, and 0.9873) of the Pb(II), Cd(II), and Cr(III) ions,