Removal Of Cadmium Ions Research Articles

Assessment of the Ability of Processed Squeezed Nigella sativa Seeds to Effectively Remove Cadmium and Nickel Ions Form the Aqueous Solutions

Assessment of the Ability of Processed Squeezed Nigella sativa Seeds to Effectively Remove Cadmium and Nickel Ions Form the Aqueous Solutions

Assessment of the efficiency of animal bones and neem leaves adsorbents in the removal of Cadmium ions from aqueous medium

The sorption efficiency of bones and neem leaves adsorbents for the removal of cadmium ions from wastewater was investigated in the study. The animal bones and neem leaves were carbonized and activated using phosphoric acid. The adsorbents were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffractometry and atomic absorption spectrometry. The equilibrium sorption properties were assessed to optimize the conditions for maximum sorption of the cadmium ions. As for the samples of neem leaves, it was observed that the activated carbon prepared from neem leaves had a high adsorption efficiency of 73.13% than that of raw neem leaves of 67.53% and activated leaves having the lowest efficiency of 25.49%. From the values obtained for animal bones, the carbonized sample had the highest efficiency of 75.22% and the raw sample had high efficiency of 74.23%.

Highly efficient removal of cadmium (II) ions using cellulose-based monolith with a hierarchically porous structure fabricated through phase separation method

In this study, a functionalized cellulose-based monolith was utilized as a highly efficient adsorbent to remove heavy metal ions. Firstly, cellulose-based monolith (CE MONOLITH) was obtained via combination of thermally induced phase separation and post-alkaline hydrolysis. Afterwards, the functionalized monolith (EDTA-CE MONOLITH) was prepared through esterification with ethylenediaminetetraacetic dianhydride. The fabricated EDTA-CE MONOLITH showed a hierarchically porous morphology containing macro- and mesopores simultaneously with an excellent compressive strength, which was extremely suitable for heavy metal removal. The porous structure and chemical properties of CE MONOLITH and EDTA-CE MONOLITH were characterized through SEM, N2 adsorption/desorption isotherm, FT-IR, elementary analysis, EDS, and XPS. Finally, the batch and fixed-bed column experiments were performed to evaluate the adsorption behaviors of EDTA-CE MONOLITH for Cd2+. The results revealed that EDTA-CE MONOLITH exhibited a relatively fast Cd2+ adsorption rate with a maximum adsorption capacity of 110.1 mg/g. And EDTA-CE MONOLITH could be regenerated easily and displayed excellent reusability without significant loss of absorption capacity. The fixed-bed column adsorption implied that EDTA-CE MONOLITH showed high efficiency for Cd2+ adsorption. Therefore, the EDTA-CE MONOLITH fabricated in this work had large potential to be used as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of heavy metal ions in wastewater treatment.

REMEDIATION OF CADMIUM IONS FROM THE CONTAMINATED AQUEOUS MEDIA BY USING DEAD BIOMASS OFBACILLUS SUBTILIS

Aquatic systems are severely polluted by heavy metal pollutants which results in worsening the quality of water which arises as a serious threat that needs to cope up by the world. These toxicants show detrimental effects on all life forms which leads to disturbance of the ecosystems. Therefore, there is a vital need to clean the polluted environment by developing new innovative approaches for the remediation of water systems. In the current study,batch experiments were performed to check the potential of biosorbentBacillus subtilisfor the biosorption of cadmium metal ions from contaminated aqueousmedia and the favorable environment for the highest removal (87.50 %) of cadmium ions were obtained after 60 minutes of equilibrium time at pH 5, 0.2 g biomass and 20 mg/L of cadmium concentration. The experimental adsorption data were better fitted towards the Langmuir model for Cd (R2= 0.9938)than the Freundlich model, while the data related to chemical kinetics obtained by pseudo first and second order equations. The maximum biosorption capacity achieved byBacillus subtilis for cadmium metal was found 51.8 mg/g. Hence, this study suggested that Bacillus subtilis proved to be an effective biosorbent for the mitigation of cadmium ions from aquatic solutions.

Removal of cadmium ions by magnesium phosphate: Kinetics, isotherm, and mechanism studies

In this study, magnesium phosphate with needle structure has been prepared by simple co-precipitation method. XRD, FTIR and SEM-EDX analyses indicated the successful fabrication of Mg3(PO4)2·5H2O phase. Subsequently, the adsorption performance of the material was tested toward Cd(II) removal from aqueous media. Batch experiments indicated that the solution pH highly influences the removal efficiency of Cd(II) with a maximum uptake observed at pH=3. Besides, the examination of the adsorption kinetics highlights that the data could be fitted by both pseudo 2nd order and Elovich models. This suggests that adsorption/desorption process in the limiting step in the kinetics of Cd(II) uptake. The Langmuir maximum adsorption capacity was 943 mg/g and the calculated energy from Dubinin–Radushkevich model was E=8.75 kJ/mol. This result indicates that the uptake of Cd(II) onto Mg3(PO4)2·5H2O is essentially an ion exchange process. Thermodynamic study suggests spontaneous and exothermic adsorption process. Besides, the XRD diffractogram of the adsorbent after saturation with Cd(II) revealed the presence of characteristic peaks related to Cd5H2(PO4)4·4H2O phase.

Performance evaluation of zirconium silicate composite for removal of cadmium and zinc ions

ABSTRACT The purification of wastewater is preferred using the adsorption by column due to the process’s high efficiency. Column investigations are performed to remove hazardous pollutants and demonstrate the adsorption efficiency of the pollutants in the wastewater treatment process. Cadmium and zinc exist in radioactive and industrial wastes. Therefore, this work is interested in zinc and cadmium removal from wastewater utilising a fixed-bed column. Zirconia–silicate composite (ZrO2–SiO2) was synthesised utilising the sol–gel technique and analyzed for this purpose. The influence of some parameters as bed depth (2.0, 3.0 and 5.0 cm), flow rate (2.0 and 3.0 mL/min) and initial ions concentrations (50–200 mg/L) was investigated. The column performance was computed to be 80.3 and 79.3% for Zn2 + and Cd2+, respectively, at the optimum conditions (3.0 cm bed depth, 2.0 mL/min flow rate and 100 mg/L ions concentration). Thomas, Adams–Bohart and Yoon–Nelson theories were performed to assess breakthrough curves and determine the parameters of column models which are essential for scale-up design. Thomas theory exhibited the highest R 2 values (0.84–0.97) and gave the most accurate computation of the adsorption process.

High efficient removal of lead(II) and cadmium(II) ions from multi-component aqueous solutions using polyacrylic acid acrylonitrile talc nanocomposite

This study is interested in the removal of Pb(II), Cd(II), Co(II), Zn(II), and Sr(II) onto polyacrylic acid acrylonitrile talc P(AA-AN)-talc nanocomposite. P(AA-AN)-talc was fabricated using γ-irradiation-initiated polymerization at 50 kGy. Different analytical tools were used to investigate the functional groups, morphology, particle size, and structure of this composite. The ability of P(AA-AN)-talc to capture (Pb2+, Cd2+, Co2+, Zn2+, and Sr2+) as multi-component aqueous solutions was performed by a batch method. Saturation capacity and the effect of (agitating time, pH, initial metal concentrations, and temperature) were investigated. The distribution coefficients at different pHs have order: Pb2+ > Cd2+ > Co2+ > Zn2+ > Sr2+. The saturation capacity decreases by increasing heating temperatures. Reaction kinetic obeys the pseudo-second-order model. Sorption isotherms are more relevant to a Langmuir isotherm, and the monolayer sorption capacity is closed to saturation capacity. Thermodynamic parameters (∆G˚, ∆H˚, and ∆S˚) were endothermic and spontaneous. P(AA-AN)-talc is used for loading and recovery of studied cations in the column system. The study confirms that P(AA-AN)-talc is a promised composite for the sorption of the studied ions from aqueous solutions and should be considered as potential material for decontaminating these ions.Graphical abstract

Removal of Cd<sup>2+</sup> from Artificial Waste Using Natural Zeolite: Study on Adsorption Equilibrium

This study reports the removal of cadmium ions in aqueous solution as the artificial waste using natural zeolite as the adsorbent. Natural zeolite was characterized by using XRD (X – Ray Diffraction) and XRF (X-Ray fluorescence) analysis. The XRD results show that the natural zeolite derived from Klaten, Jawa Tengah, is mordenite type and the XRF results show that Si/Al ratio is 5.688 % (medium). A batch adsorption method is carried out at room temperature varied adsorbent dose. Equilibrium of adsorption data were analyzed using the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm model. The values of the parameters constants for the Langmuir equation were qmax = -2.301 mg/g and KL = -1.00067 while the Freundlich equation were Kf = 3.999 and n = 0.845. It was found that the Freundlich adsorption model is better than the Langmuir isotherm model with high coefficient of determination. In this study, the removal efficiency for Cd2+ was 99.4 % for adsorbent dose of 70 g/L. It can be concluded that the natural zeolite of mordenite type is a very potential adsorbent for removal Cd2+. Therefore, the utilization of zeolite should to be encouraged in a larger scale especially in the environmental application.

Modeling of cadmium(II) removal in a fixed bed column utilizing hydrochar-derived activated carbon obtained from discarded mango peels

Cadmium is found in many underdeveloped countries' aquatic bodies. Therefore, contaminated water should be treated before consumption; henceforth, efficient and customized point-of-use filtration is foreseeable. Traditionally, carbon-based sorbents have been utilized for such treatments, but alternative sources are also being investigated. Hydrochars made from mango peels using a thermal activation process were employed as an adsorbent instead of activated carbon in this investigation. The prepared material was porous with active surface functionalities, and the interaction of cadmium with the surface was possibly ion-exchange in nature. The performance of a material for a candle water filtering system with a 2.5 cm internal diameter and a 30.48 cm column height was determined using the parameters acquired by the Thomas model. The material was found to be highly efficient at 453.5 L/min/Filter water, whereas 31670.6 L/min/Filter can be treated if the break point and exhaustion point are considered, respectively, as the candle replacement time. These findings indicate that activated hydrochar might be a suitable sorbent for removing cadmium ions from contaminated water.

Adsorption and removal studies of cadmium ion onto sulphonic/phosphonic acid functionalization resins

AbstractCadmium is a persistent bio‐accumulative toxic metallic element, which causes hazardous impacts on living species, water, and the environment. This paper presents the study of cadmium ion removal from aqueous solutions in batch experiments using 22 ion exchange resins with different functional groups. It was found that Dowex G‐26 resin with a sulphonic functional group and Puromet™ MTS9570 resin with sulphonic and phosphonic functional groups had excellent performance for Cd (II) ion removal. The effects of resin dosage, adsorption time, initial concentration of cadmium, and initial pH of solution on cadmium removal were investigated systematically using Dowex G‐26 and Puromet™ MTS9570 resins. Maximum cadmium removal rates of 99.2% and 98.9% were achieved for G‐26 and MTS9570, respectively, at an initial cadmium concentration of 1000 mg/L, an initial solution pH of 5.0, an adsorption time of 30 min, and a 0.01 mg/L resin dosage for G‐26, and a 0.025 mg/L resin dosage for MTS9570. The ion‐exchange adsorption process was fast, and it reached equilibrium after 30 min of adsorption. The results obtained show that both resins performed well for the removal of Cd (II) ions from weakly acidic solutions. Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherms models were employed to investigate and understand the adsorption characteristics. The results showed that the studied adsorption processes fitted well to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. From the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, the maximum adsorption capacities of Cd (II) were found to be 78.125 and 51.020 mg/g for G‐26 and MTS9570, respectively. This research provides an efficient systemic approach for cadmium ion removal from aqueous solutions.

Cadmium Removal Using Eucalyptus Bark and Syzygium Cumini Bark as Adsorbents

Abstract: "When there is a decision of Smart, for what reason to pick just better." Eucalyptus bark and syzygium barks are very abundant, inexpensive and forest residues. It was decided to do experiment with it as a potential adsorbent for the removal of certain metals in industrial waste water. The efficiency of eucalyptus bark and syzygium cumini bark as a low cost sorbents for removing cadmium ions from aqueous solution has been investigated in batch mode. In order to study the variables that define the process, the variables selected were: Time, metal ion concentration, pH variation, Adsorbent dosage and particle size. Batch mode experiments were conducted to observe the effects of selected variables. It was verified that all the variables studied had significant influence on the adsorption process. Maximum cadmium uptake was obtained at 70 minutes for Eucalyptus bark and 60 minutes for Syzygium cumini bark. The equilibrium data could be well described by the Langmuir isotherm but a worse fit was obtained by the Freundlich model. Keywords: Eucalyptus bark, Syzygium cumini bark, adsorbent, cadmium, waste water.

Removal of Iron, Manganese, Cadmium, and Nickel Ions Using Brewers’ Spent Grain

The human-made pollution of surface and ground waters is becoming an inevitable and persistently urgent problem for humankind and life in general, as these pollutants are also distributed by their natural circulation. For example, from mining activities and metallurgy, toxic heavy metals pollute the environment and present material risk for human health and the environment. Bioadsorbers are an intriguing way to efficiently capture and eliminate these hazards, as they are environmentally friendly, cheap, abundant, and efficient. In this study, we present brewers’ spent grain (BSG) as an efficient adsorber for toxic heavy metal ions, based on the examples of iron, manganese, cadmium, and nickel ions. We uncover the adsorption properties of two different BSGs and investigate thoroughly their chemical and physical properties as well as their efficiency as adsorbers for simulated and real surface waters. As a result, we found that the adsorption behavior of BSG types differs despite almost identical chemistry. Elemental mapping reveals that all components of BSG contribute to the adsorption. Further, both types are not only able to purify water to reach acceptable levels of cleanness, but also yield outstanding adsorption performance for iron ions of 0.2 mmol/g and for manganese, cadmium, and nickel ions of 0.1 mmol/g.

Comparative study of recyclable chemically modified citrus fruit peel (bio-adsorbents) for removal of Cadmium ion for aqueous solution

We have developed kinnow peel based bio-adsorbent for removal of cadmium from waste water. We have also developed recyclable bio-adsorbent. We recycled it up to 5 cycles. We also used various parameters for test of cadmium removal ability of bio-adsorbent like optimizing of pH, temperature of solution, dosage of adsorbent, contact time and solid-liquid ratio.

Biosorption of Rubber Seed Shell as a Waste Material in the Removal of Cadmium Ion from Contaminated Water

Heavy metal ion contamination in industrial wastewater is a major source of concern. Among the numerous approaches, biosorption has attracted the greatest attention in the removal of heavy metal ions from water. In particular, cadmium is bio-accumulative that poses a threat to our health when it exists in excess in our bloodstream. Here, the elimination of Cd (II) ions from wastewater using adsorbent derived from rubber seed shell (RSS). Further, thermogravimetric analysis was performed to determine the stability of materials. According to the hard and soft acids and bases (HSAB) principle, the rubber seed shell as novel bioadsorbent creates hard surface sites for cadmium ion adsorption. Batch experiments were carried out to determine the effects of pH, contact time, initial metal ions concentration, and biosorbent dosage on the removal efficiencies of Cd2+ ion using rubber seed shell. Adsorption isotherms and kinetics models were also performed for the elimination of Cd2+ ion. The optimum conditions was conducted and achieved 96% removal efficiencies of Cd2+ ion from water (pH 5.6, temperature 60°C, and initial metal concentration of 150 mg/L, the adsorption dosage 180 mg/g). The outcome of the present investigations indicated that the increasing use of bioadsorbent materials due to their low cost, regeneration ability, high adsorption efficiency, and higher removal percentage of metal ions from water sources.

Biogenic Silver Kaolinite Nanocomposite for the Sequestration of Lead and Cadmium in Simulated Produced Water

Biologically inspired nanocomposites are currently attracting significant recognition in view of their environmentally friendly, cost efficient and sustainable properties. In this study, silver-kaolinite nanocomposite (SKN) was synthesized using aqueous extracts from fresh leaves of Aloe vera as a bioreducing agent and employed for the removal of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) ions from simulated produced water (SPW). Morphological properties of SKN were examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, Brauner-Emmett-Teller (BET) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry with average particle size ranging from 45 to 60 nm. Different physicochemical parameters (initial concentration (10 - 120 mg/L), adsorbent dosage (0.01 - 0.2 g), pH (2 - 8) and contact time (5 - 150 min)) were investigated to ascertain the efficiency of SKN. The results revealed optimum adsorption of 142 and 120 mg/g for lead and cadmium ions respectively at initial metal concentration of 100 mg/L, 0.05 g of SKN dose and pH 6 for 60 min. Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second order kinetic model adequately interpreted the equilibrium and kinetic data respectively.

Sustainable Microbial and Heavy Metal Reduction in Water Purification Systems Based on PVA/IC Nanofiber Membrane Doped with PANI/GO

Effective and efficient removal of both heavy metal pollutants and bacterial contamination from fresh water is an open issue, especially in developing countries. In this work, a novel eco-friendly functional composite for water treatment application was investigated. The composite consisted of electrospun nanofiber membrane from blended polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/iota carrageenan (IC) polymers doped with equal concentrations of graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles and polyaniline (PANI). The effectiveness of this composite as a water purification fixed-bed filter was optimized in a batch system for the removal of cadmium (Cd+2) and lead (Pb+2) ions, and additionally characterized for its antimicrobial and antifungal properties and cytotoxicity effect. The fiber nanocomposite exhibited efficient antibacterial activity, with maximum adsorption capacity of about 459 mg g−1 after 120 min for Cd+2 and of about 486 mg g−1 after 90 min for Pb+2. The optimized conditions for removal of both metals were assessed by using a response surface methodology model. The resulting scores at 25 °C were 91.4% (Cd+2) removal at 117 min contact time for 89.5 mg L−1 of initial concentration and 29.6 cm2 membrane area, and 97.19% (Pb+2) removal at contact time 105 min for 83.2 mg L−1 of initial concentration and 30.9 cm2 nanofiber composite membrane. Adsorption kinetics and isotherm followed a pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm model, respectively. The prepared membrane appears to be promising for possible use in domestic water purification systems.

Magnetite-induced topological transformation of 3D hierarchical MgAl layered double hydroxides to highly dispersed 2D magnetic hetero-nanosheets for effective removal of cadmium ions from aqueous solutions

The study shows the synthesis of highly dispersed magnetic hetero-nanosheets through topological transformation of 3D Hierarchical MgAl layered double hydroxides in the presence of Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The platelet-like hierarchical nano-heterostructures consisted of 10 nm Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles dispersed over the surface of MgAl-LDH lamella. The as-prepared biphasic self-assembled nanocomposite was successfully used as an adsorbent for decontamination of spiked cadmium wastewater at room temperature. A comprehensive physico-chemical characterization of structural and textural features, as well as the magnetic properties of the prepared nanocomposites were carried out by using complementary techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), Dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area and Zeta potential respectively. Moreover, the influences of certain parameters including pH, adsorbent dosage, initial cadmium concentration, and contact time were extensively studied in terms of profiling the adsorption capacity of the hierarchical nano-heterostructures. Different adsorption isotherm (Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Redlich-Peterson) in linear and nonlinear forms were applied. According to the results, Freundlich and Redlich-Peterson models fitted the data. On the other hand, three kinetic models were used, including pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order (linear and nonlinear forms), and intraparticle diffusion.The results were explained through a pseudo-second-order model, reaching the equilibrium in 60 min. The optimum recommended pH and adsorbent dose are 5 and 1.4 g/L, respectively. Comprehensive characterization revealed that the synthesized materials are suitable candidates as adsorbents in Cd (II) adsorption techniques with maximum adsorption capacities of 80.6 mg/g, 91.7 mg/g, and 109.9 mg/g. Furthermore, the regeneration investigation highlighted the adsorbents' performance after three cycles of adsorption/desorption.

Synthesis and characterization of hexagonal Mg[sbnd]Fe layered double hydroxide/grapheme oxide nanocomposite for efficient adsorptive removal of cadmium ion from aqueous solutions: Isotherm, kinetic, thermodynamic and mechanism

Heavy metal pollution in water is a major concern due to its bioaccumulation, non-biodegradability, and high toxicity. Long-term cadmium (Cd(II)) ion exposure could have an adverse impact on human health. Because, natural water bodies contain Cd(II) pollution at low concentrations, the treatment of Cd(II)-polluted water should be treated as micro-polluted water. It is critical to develop an effective water purification procedure to remove Cd(II) from micro-polluted water. In the present research, MgFe binary layered hydroxide/graphene oxide (MgFe LDH/GO) nanocomposite was synthesized, characterized and used for efficient Cd(II) adsorption. The adsorption process was investigated in terms of pH influence, kinetic behavior, isotherm equilibrium curves, and estimation of thermodynamic parameters. The characterization results showed that MgFe LDH/GO, which is composed of crystalline MgFe binary hydroxide and amorphous GO structures, has a considerable surface area (223 m2/g) and has a plate-like hexagonal structure with even forms and lamellar aggregates. Cd(II) adsorption was favoured on the MgFe LDH/GO surface in neutral circumstances at 25 °C. The pseudo-second-order kinetic behavior was adequately described, although the isotherm equilibrium curves fitted the Langmuir isotherm, with a high maximum uptake capacity of 174.83 mg/g. Chemisorption-controlled spontaneous and endothermic reactions occurred, which was confirmed by thermodynamic studies. Further, the surface interaction mechanism was investigated using the XPS analysis of spent catalyst. The MgFe LDH/GO nanocomposite is efficient to treat Cd(II) with a removal percentage of 99%. It can be reused more than four times without losing its original capacity and stability. Overall, the MgFe LDH/GO nanocomposite exhibited high potential to be utilized as an adsorbent for the removal of pollutants from actual contaminated water samples.

Grafting of Thiazole Derivative on Chitosan Magnetite Nanoparticles for Cadmium Removal-Application for Groundwater Treatment.

The synthesis and developments of magnetic chitosan nanoparticles for high efficiency removal of the cadmium ions from aquatic medium are one of the most challenging techniques. Highly adsorptive composite (MCH-ATA) was produced by the reaction of chitosan with formaldehyde and amino thiazole derivative. The sorbent was characterized by FTIR, elemental analyses (EA), SEM-EDX, TEM analysis, TGA and titration (volumetric). The modified material includes high nitrogen and sulfur contents (i.e., 4.64 and 1.35 mmol g−1, respectively), compared to the pristine material (3.5 and 0 mmol g−1, respectively). The sorption was investigated for the removal of Cd(II) ions from synthetic (prepared) solution before being tested towards naturally contaminated groundwater in an industrial area. The functionalized sorbent shows a high loading capacity (1.78 mmol Cd g−1; 200 mg Cd g−1) compared to the pristine material (0.61 mmol Cd g−1; 68.57 mg Cd g−1), while removal of about 98% of Cd with capacity (6.4 mg Cd g−1) from polymetallic contaminated groundwater. The sorbent displays fast sorption kinetics compared to the non-modified composite (MCH); 30 min is sufficient for complete sorption for MCH-ATA, while 60–90 min for the MCH. PFORE fits sorption kinetics for both sorbents, whereas the Langmuir equation fits for MCH and Langmuir and Sips for MCH-ATA for sorption isotherms. The TEM analysis confirms the nano scale size, which limits the diffusion to intraparticle sorption properties. The 0.2 M HCl solution is a successful desorbing agent for the metal ions. The sorbent was applied for the removal of cadmium ions from the contaminated underground water and appears to be a promising process for metal decontamination and water treatment.

Optimization of the Preparation of Activated Carbon from Prickly Pear Seed Cake for the Removal of Lead and Cadmium Ions from Aqueous Solution

In this study, we evaluated the use of prickly pear seed cake, a by-product of prickly pear seed oil extraction, as a new precursor for producing activated carbon by phosphoric acid activation, and the obtained carbon’s capacity for heavy metal removal from aqueous solution. Response surface methodology based on the full factorial design at two levels (24) was developed to reduce the number of experiments and reach optimal preparation conditions for the removal of cadmium and lead ions from aqueous solutions. Design Expert 11.1.2.0 Trial software was used for generating the statistical experimental design and analyzing the observed data. Factors influencing the activation process, such as carbonization temperature, activation temperature, activation time, and impregnation ratio, were studied. Responses were studied in depth with an analysis of variance to estimate their significance. Each response was outlined by a first-order regression equation demonstrating satisfactory correspondence between the predicted and experimental results as the adjusted coefficients of correlation. Based on the statistical data, the best conditions for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution by the obtained activated carbon were indicated. The maximum iodine number and methylene blue index were 2527.3 mg g−1 and 396.5 mg g−1, respectively, using activated carbon obtained at the following conditions: Tc = 500 °C, Ta = 500 °C, impregnation ratio = 2:1 (g H3PO4: g carbon), and activation time of two hours. The maximum adsorption reached 170.2 mg g−1 and 158.4 mg g−1 for Cd2+ and Pb2+, respectively, using activated carbon obtained at the following conditions: Tc = 600 °C, Ta = 400 °C, impregnation ratio = 2:1 (g H3PO4: g carbon), and activation time of one hour. The activated carbon obtained was characterized by Boehm titration, pH of point of zero charge (pHPZC), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area (SBET), and scanning electron microscopy. Adsorption was performed according to different parameters: pH solution, adsorbent dosage, temperature, contact time, and initial concentration. Regeneration experiments proved that the obtained activated carbon still had a high removal capacity for Cd2+ and Pb2+ after five regeneration cycles.