Croatica Chemica Acta, Vol. 99 No. 2, 2026.
Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.5562/cca4360
Influence of Activation Chemistry on Surface Characteristics and Pb2+ Adsorption by Chayote-Derived Activated Carbon
Nikili K. Zhimo
; Dept. of Chemistry, Kohima Science College, Jotsoma, India
Neilanuo Huozha
; Dept. of Chemistry, Kohima Science College, Jotsoma, India
Daniel Kibami
orcid.org/0000-0002-1787-3057
; Dept. of Chemistry, Kohima Science College, Jotsoma, India
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* Dopisni autor.
Sažetak
Activated carbon was synthesized from chayote (Sechium edule) biomass using KOH, HNO3, and FeCl3 as chemical activating agents, and its performance for Pb2+ removal from aqueous solution was systematically investigated. The influence of activation chemistry on the structural and surface characteristics of the resulting carbons was examined using BET, SEM, FTIR, XRD, EDX, pHzpc, and XPS analyses. Distinct variations in pore development and surface functionality were observed among the three activated carbons, reflecting the different effects of the activating agents. KOH activation produced the most favourable adsorbent, exhibiting the highest specific surface area (1103.57 m2 g–1), a Langmuir maximum adsorption capacity of 57.811 mg g–1, and Pb2+ removal efficiencies approaching 98%. Equilibrium data were best represented by the Langmuir model for KOH- and HNO3-activated carbons, whereas the Freundlich model more adequately described the adsorption behaviour of the FeCl3-activated carbon. Kinetic analysis showed that the pseudo-second-order model provided the closest fit to the experimental data, while the combined characterization results suggested that Pb2+ adsorption was governed by the combined influence of electrostatic interactions, oxygen-containing surface functional groups, and diffusion within the pore network. These findings demonstrate that the choice of activating agent strongly influences the adsorption behaviour of chayote-derived activated carbon, with KOH activation producing the most effective adsorbent under the experimental conditions investigated.
Ključne riječi
chayote biomass; activated carbon; lead adsorption; activation chemistry; heavy metal remediation; aqueous treatment
Hrčak ID:
353231
URI
Datum izdavanja:
1.9.2026.
Posjeta: 0 *