Removal of heavy metal and dye from aqueous solution using activated carbons obtained from biomass

In this study, removal of heavy metal and dye from aqueous solution by adsorption with activated carbons were investigated. Euphorbia rigida was used to prepare activated carbon by chemical activation with zinc chloride (ZnCl2) for heavy metal removal and olive seeds were used to prepare activated carbon by chemical activation with potassium carbonate (K2CO3) for dye removal. Pb+2 ion was chosen as heavy metal and Buracid Orange II was used as dyestuff. In the studies in which the effect of initial concentration, adsorption time and temperature on removal were investigated, the percent removal was found up to % 98 for Pb+2 ions and %94 for Buracid Orange II. The isotherm studies were conducted for the adsorption system of lead (II) ions and dyestuff on the activated carbon, and the system thermodynamics were investigated by means of the coefficients obtained. Besides, the system kinetics are investigated by doing experimental studies at different initial concentrations in four different temperature conditions.Keywords: Biomass, Activated carbon, Adsorption, Heavy metal, Dye