Assessment of Heavy Metal Ion Binding Efficiency Using Locally Sourced Clay Minerals Modified with Simple Inorganic Reagents in Contaminated Iraqi Water Samples

Water contaminated with heavy metals poses great environmental and health hazards. This work investigates the effectiveness of locally available clay minerals functionalized with simple inorganic reagents (sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃), sodium chloride (NaCl), and vinegar) in removing lead (Pb²⁺) from an inorganic contaminant source (contaminated water). Clay samples were collected from different regions in Iraq and characterized for their adsorption properties. Batch adsorption experiments included the effects of metal concentration, pH, and contact time on removal efficiency. The data demonstrated that at pH 7 the highest Lead Removal (78.4%) was achieved at Na₂CO₃-modified Clay and for any of the max study concentrations should exist a decrease of the adsorption capacity. Comparing performance with previous studies shows that modified clays are a cheaper and sustainable alternative for commercial adsorbents. These findings allow cost-effective modifications of natural clay minerals as a potential solution for remediation of heavy metal pollution under such resource-limited situations.