Heavy metals removal from synthetic and shipyard wastewater using Phoenix dactylifera activated carbon

In this study, an activated carbon was derived from Phoenix dactylifera (ACPD) by a newly introduced method of oil submerging and was applied to eliminate Pb(II), Cd(II), and Ni(II) from aqueous solution. At initial pH of 6, temperature of 25°C, metal ions concentration of 10 mg/L, contact time of 100 min, and biosorbent dosage of 5 g/L, the maximum removal of 94.5, 92.4, and 90.3% were attained for Pb(II), Cd(II), and Ni(II), respectively. The Freundlich model was the best model for describing the data among other studied models. A pseudo- second order model showed a better description of the results than the pseudo-first order and intra-particle diffusion models. The enthalpy, entropy, and Gibb’s free energy confirmed that the biosorption processes were spontaneous and exothermic. The reusability of ACPD was repeated six times and the reduction in biosorption capacity at the 6 th cycle was 3% less than the fresh ACPD. A real sample of shipyard wastewater was successfully treated using ACPD. Therefore, ACPD can be used as a suitable and affordable biosorbent for Pb(II), Cd(II), and Ni(II) ions removal from wastewaters.