25/05/2026
๐ก๐๐ช ๐๐ฅ๐ง๐๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐จ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution
Publisher: Springer Nature
Indexing: Scopus
Sustainable Synthesis of FeCl3-Modified Pineapple Leaves Activated Carbon and its Adsorptive Efficiency in Pb2+ Removal in Simulated Wastewater
๐๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ/๐:
Glen Mark O. Salvaรฑa, Rica Jane V. Jose, Roy C. Losdoc, Niรฑa Mariz A. Lumindas, Rowena P. Amaba, & Val Irvin F. Mabayo
๐๐ฏ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐:
Heavy metal contamination of aquatic systems remains a critical global environmental challenge, with lead (Pb) posing particularly severe risks due to its non-biodegradable nature, high toxicity even at trace concentrations, and tendency to bioaccumulate in living organisms. Despite the availability of various treatment technologies, cost-effective and sustainable methods for Pb removal, particularly those derived from agricultural waste, remain insufficiently explored. This study addresses this gap by developing and optimizing FeCl3-loaded activated carbon derived from pineapple (Ananas comosus) leaves (FeCl3-PLAC) as a sustainable adsorbent for Pb removal from simulated wastewater, wherein FeCl3 was uniquely synthesized from electrostatic precipitator dust collected from a sintering plant, representing a dual-waste valorization strategy. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) identified key functional groups, including hydroxyl, carbonyl, and aromatic moieties, with spectral shifts after adsorption consistent with surface Pb2+ interactions. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed characteristic pore occupation and surface structural changes following adsorption. The effects of initial Pb concentration, adsorbent dose, and contact time were systematically examined and optimized using a central composite design (CCD) under response surface methodology (RSM). Optimal conditions of 25 ppm initial Pb concentration, 0.7 g adsorbent dose, and 30 min contact time achieved a maximum removal efficiency of 99.61%. Adsorption equilibrium data were evaluated using nonlinear fitting against four isotherm models: Langmuir (R2 = 0.975), Freundlich (R2 = 0.976), Temkin (R2 = 0.972), and DubininโRadushkevich (R2 = 0.970), with the Freundlich model providing the best overall fit and a heterogeneity parameter n = 1.367 confirming favorable adsorption conditions, and a theoretical maximum Langmuir adsorption capacity of 12.37 mg/g was obtained. Adsorption kinetics were evaluated against four models: pseudo-first-order (PFO, R2 = 0.716), pseudo-second-order (PSO, R2 = 0.984), Elovich (R2 = 0.965), and WeberโMorris intraparticle diffusion (R2 = 0.917). The PSO model provided the best fit, with a non-zero WeberโMorris intercept indicating that intraparticle diffusion contributes to but does not solely govern the adsorption rate. Collectively, these results suggest that Pb2+ uptake by FeCl3-PLAC is governed by a surface-reaction-influenced, heterogeneous adsorption process, with surface complexation involving oxygen-containing functional groups identified by FTIR as the probable primary interaction pathway. FeCl3-PLAC achieved higher removal efficiency than both untreated pineapple leaf carbon (89.70%) and commercial activated carbon (98.64%) under the tested conditions, demonstrating its potential as a low-cost, eco-friendly, and circular-economy-aligned adsorbent for industrial wastewater remediation.
Access the article:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-026-09602-1
SDG 6 โ Clean Water and Sanitation
Promotes sustainable wastewater treatment and improved water quality.
SDG 9 โ Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Encourages innovative environmental remediation technologies.
SDG 12 โ Responsible Consumption and Production
Supports waste valorization and circular economy practices.
SDG 13 โ Climate Action
Advances environmentally sustainable pollution management strategies.