Effect of Activated Carbon Mass Variation from NaOH-Activated Coconut Coir on Lead (Pb) Adsorption Efficiency

Abstract

Lead (Pb) contamination in water bodies poses a serious threat to human health and the environment. This study aimed to examine the effect of varying the mass of activated carbon derived from coconut coir waste and activated with 1 M NaOH on Pb adsorption efficiency using an initial Pb concentration of approximately. The activated carbon was prepared through carbonization and chemical activation using 1 M NaOH for 24 h. The adsorbent masses used were 3 g, 5 g, and 7 g. Pb concentration was measured using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The results showed that a larger mass of activated carbon produced higher adsorption efficiency. The highest removal efficiency was obtained at 7 g, reaching 97.92% with a final Pb concentration of 2.1864 mg/L. Coconut-coir-based activated carbon has the potential to serve as a low-cost and environmentally friendly alternative adsorbent for reducing Pb levels in contaminated water. Nevertheless, as the final concentrations remained above the regulatory standard of 0.03 mg/L, combining this adsorbent with advanced treatment methods such as coagulation or membrane filtration is recommended for future applications to achieve regulatory compliance.