Pb(II) removal from aqueous solutions using pinewood and oakwood

Crushed pinewood and oakwood were studied as an adsorbent for Pb(II) removal from aqueous solution. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out to describe the effects of contact time, initial Pb(II) concentration, pH, competing cations, and adsorbent dosage on the Pb(II) adsorption process. Kinetic studies revealed that the Pb(II) adsorption process for pinewood and oakwood followed both pseudo first and pseudo second order model. The Fruendlich model best described equilibrium adsorption data with correlation coefficients (R2) of 0.956 and 0.950 for pinewood and oakwood. The maximum adsorption capacity of Pb(II) onto pinewood and oakwood was found to be 16.853 and 27.989 mg/g, respectively. The Pb(II) adsorption onto both pinewood and oakwood was increased as pH increased in the pH range 3-9. The presence of cations such as Na+, Ca2+, and Al3+ decreased Pb(II) adsorption. The Pb(II) removal was greater in seawater than deionized water, resulting from the presence of CO3 2- and OH- ions in seawater. This study showed that pinewood and oakwood have a potential application in the remediation of Pb(II) contaminated water.