Simultaneous Adsorption of Iron and Lead in Queenstown Borehole Water Using Activated Carbon from Nigerian Bamboo

Authors

  • Nina Maclayton Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria Author
  • Professor F.T Ademiluyi Author
  • Professor P.C Ukpaka Author
  • Professor K.K Dagde Author

Keywords:

Nigerian Bamboo, Activated Carbon, Heavy Metal Ions, Multiple Adsorption , Isotherms

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of multiple parameters on the simultaneous removal of iron (Fe2+) and lead (Pb2+) ions from an aqueous solution utilizing Nigerian bamboo activated carbon (NBAC) as an adsorbent. Factors that were considered included initial metal concentration, activated carbon dosage, pH, particle size, and contact time. The results were evaluated using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms to ascertain the appropriate model for the adsorption process. The removal percentage of heavy metals by the NBAC was observed to rise with higher dosage, pH, and contact duration, but decreased with an increase in initial metal concentration and larger particle size. At optimum conditions, the NBAC eliminated 99.95 % of Fe2+ ions and 99.94 % of Pb2+ ions. Equilibrium adsorption was attained after 9 hours for both ions. The Freundlich isotherm more accurately represented the adsorption data for Fe2+ and Pb2+ ions compared to the Langmuir isotherm, suggesting that the adsorption process is predominantly a multilayered adsorption. The study demonstrated that activated carbon produced from waste Nigerian bamboo can substitute commercial adsorbents for water purification.

Author Biographies

  • Nina Maclayton, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

    PHD Scholar in Department of Chemical/Petrochemical Engineering, Rivers State University, Rivers State, Nigeria

  • Professor F.T Ademiluyi

    Professor in Department of Chemical/Petrochemical Engineering, Rivers State University, Rivers State, Nigeria

  • Professor P.C Ukpaka

    Professor in Department of Chemical/Petrochemical Engineering, Rivers State University, Rivers State, Nigeria.

  • Professor K.K Dagde

    Professor in Department of Chemical/Petrochemical Engineering, Rivers State University, Rivers State University, Rivers State, Nigeria.

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Published

2025-06-30

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 2 (2025): JNET

Section

Articles