Highly microporous sunflower-derived activated carbon for lead and copper removal: Synthesis, characterization, and adsorption mechanism

Abstract

Different industrial processes can potentially discharge heavy metals into surface and underground waters. These heavy metals can subsequently accumulate in organisms, posing a significant risk to both the environment and human health. Carbon-based materials such as biochar, carbon nanotubes-based materials, and activated carbon have been extensively researched for their effectiveness in adsorbing heavy metals from aqueous solutions [1]. Today, there is an increased interest in the usage of different low-cost, abundantly available lignocellulosic waste as a precursor for the production of activated carbon material. Activated carbon materials produced from different types of agricultural waste are widely used as adsorbent material for the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants from wastewater. High adsorption capacity is associated with characteristics of the adsorbent such as a large specific surface area, pore structure development, and the presence of different types of functional groups [2]. In this work, activated carbon is produced by the carbonization of sunflower agricultural waste followed by an activation process with potassium hydroxide. Activated carbon samples were characterized by SEM-EDS, BET, FTIR, and XPS. The obtained material has a porous structure with micropores and a large specific surface area, exhibiting a high affinity for the adsorption of lead and copper. Additionally, the main mechanism of lead and copper adsorption by sunflower-derived activated carbon has been successfully predicted.