Co-Al layered double oxide activated carbon composite for eliminating lead ions from water

Abstract

In the current study, preparation of cobalt-aluminum layered double oxide doped activated carbon (Co-Al LDO/AC) was achieved by the co-precipitation technique and utilized for the remediation of lead (Pb2+) from water. Various methods were employed to examine the properties of the composite material, including BET, XRD, FTIR, SEM, and EDS analysis. The material characterization outcomes indicated that the LDO structure was successfully incorporated into the AC matrices with a surface area of 189.4 m2/g. The influence of adsorption parameters including Co-Al LDO/AC dosage, period of contact, initial Pb2+ loading, and initial solution pH were investigated. Moreover, the isotherm and kinetic models were investigated to provide a deeper understanding of the elimination mechanism of Pb2+ ions. The adsorption results illustrated that pH has a substantial influence on Pb2+ removal with a highest removal effectiveness at pH = 6 and a fast adsorption rate within 7 h. The kinetic data were well aligned with the pseudo-second-order model while the isotherm data obeyed the Sips model (R2>0.966). The highest adsorption uptake, estimated by the Sips model was 25.09 mg/g. Considering the modeling and characterization of the spent Co-Al LDO/AC, a chemical interaction process was involved in the elimination process and mainly controlled by ion exchange, electrostatic interactions, and surface complexation mechanisms. Accordingly, the Co-Al LDO/AC could have great potential as a promising hybrid for the purification of toxic Pb2+ ions from contaminated water streams.