Abstract:
Lead (Pb) contamination in particular has detrimental effects on habitats and human health, making heavy metal pollution a major environmental issue. Lead has been linked to serious neurological disorders, renal failure, and cognitive issues; therefore, it is vital to eliminate lead from contaminated water sources. Among other methods, activated carbon, which is has gained popularity for heavy metals cleanup due to its large surface area, or porosity, and ability to absorb a variety of contaminants. This thesis explores the application of activated carbon derived from bagasse made from sugar an abundant agricultural waste product, for the purpose of eliminating lead from aqueous solutions. A cheap and sustainable raw source for the synthesis of activated carbon is sugarcane bagasse, a byproduct of the sugar industry. Carbonization is the first step in the activation process; this is followed by physical or chemical activation to increase the material's porosity and adsorption capacity. The study looks into the best activation process parameters, like temperatures, activator agent, and time, to optimize lead adsorption. Batch adsorption studies were carried out to assess the lead removal efficacy under various situations, such as varying pH levels, contact periods, starting lead concentrations of substances, and adsorbent doses. His work advances the subject of environmental remediation by offering an effective and sustainable method for removing heavy metals from the environment using activated carbon made from garbage. The results highlight the viability of using bagasse from sugarcane, an agroindustrial waste, in developing low-cost adsorbents for water treatment. The study not only offers a solution to the environmental problem of lead contamination but also addresses waste management issues by valorizing sugarcane bagasse. Future work could explore the application of this material in the removal of other heavy metals and contaminants, as well as its potential in industrial-scale water treatment systems.
