Eco-Friendly Lead Removal: Utilizing Modified and Unmodified Avocado Seed as a Low-Cost Biosorbent.

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Published: 2025-04-01
Keywords:
Adsorption, Heavy metals, Acid, Alkaline, Isotherm

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Ngozi Jane Maduelosi
Department of Chemistry, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Ijeoma Joy Agbai
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Abia State University, Uturu
Prosper Bariseredum Moses
Department of Chemistry, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

The removal of toxic heavy metals, particularly lead (Pb), from water is a major environmental and public health concern. Conventional remediation methods are often expensive and inaccessible, prompting the search for sustainable, low-cost alternatives. This study evaluated avocado seed (Persea americana), an agricultural waste, as a natural adsorbent for lead removal in three forms: unmodified, acid-modified, and alkaline-modified. Using a batch adsorption approach, key parameters including pH, contact time, temperature, adsorbent dosage, and initial lead concentration were systematically assessed. Optimal adsorption was achieved at pH 5, with 0.1 g of adsorbent, 60 °C, 90 minutes of contact time, and an initial lead concentration of 10 ppm, with both modified adsorbents outperforming the unmodified form. The acid-modified adsorbent followed the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics, indicating monolayer adsorption and chemisorption, while the alkaline-modified adsorbent conformed to the Freundlich model with pseudo-second-order kinetics, showing heterogeneous surface adsorption. Percentage removal of lead was highest for the acid-modified (99.96%), followed by alkaline-modified (99.05%) and unmodified (89.99%). These results demonstrate that surface modification significantly enhances adsorption efficiency and that lead removal is strongly pH-dependent.

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Vol. 2 No. 1 (2025)

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Articles
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Maduelosi, N. J., Agbai, I. J., & Moses, P. B. (2025). Eco-Friendly Lead Removal: Utilizing Modified and Unmodified Avocado Seed as a Low-Cost Biosorbent. International Journal Of Research And Technopreneurial Innovations, 2(1), 58-68. https://ijrti.com.ng/index.php/home/article/view/58

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